Posted on 08/18/25
| News Source: Pikesville Patch
A re-intensified Category 4 Hurricane Erin with 140 mph winds will continue to strengthen and turn northeastward this week, churning up "life-threatening surf and rip currents" along the Eastern Shore, according to the latest forecast.
Despite remaining well offshore, the hurricane is expected to impact Maryland's beaches by the middle of the week, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center.
"These rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents," the National Hurricane Center said.
A beach hazards statement was issued until 8 p.m. Monday for the Eastern Shore.
"Swells from Hurricane Erin will bring a high risk of dangerous rip currents beginning Tuesday and continuing for much of the week," the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Virginia said.
Beach erosion and coastal flooding are a risk across the Mid-Atlantic, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said, "where onshore winds blowing around the periphery of Erin will cause waves to pound into the shoreline for days. These risks will be heightened during high-tide cycles, particularly when Erin makes its closest approach on Wednesday and Thursday, but could start as early as Tuesday."
Some outer rainbands may clip eastern portions of the region, including Wicomico County and surrounding areas, Wednesday evening into Thursday, potentially resulting in localized areas of heavy rain and strong winds, as well as minor to moderate coastal flooding, Salisbury University said.
On Monday and Tuesday, Erin will bring waves reaching 6 feet to the East Coast, ABC Newssaid. By Wednesday, those waves could reach 8 to 12 feet in northern Florida and from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, up to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
On Thursday, those 8- to-12-foot waves will remain in the Outer Banks and could also target New Jersey and Long Island beaches.
By Friday, waves are expected to drop to 6 feet as Erin turns away from the U.S.
Erin will remain a dangerous major hurricane through the middle of this week, with the storm growing even stronger, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.
While Erin’s track should bring it increasingly close to the U.S. East Coast through Thursday — while brushing by Bermuda at the same time — the system will turn away from the mainland and head first northwest, then north into the Atlantic, AccuWeather forecasters said.
Before and during Erin’s predicted turn, the system is expected to bring “life-threatening surf and rip currents” to the beaches of the Bahamas, the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada over the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.
Beachgoers are urged to be cautious and listen to lifeguards. In the past week, multiple people have had to be rescued from rip currents at the Jersey Shore, with two deaths.
Aside from the rough surf, weather conditions this week will generally be "benign" and cool, according to the National Weather Service.
Here's the latest Baltimore area forecast from the NWS:
Monday: A slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers between 3am and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind 3 to 6 mph.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.