Erin Sparks Tropical Storm Warning For MD With High Winds, Monster Waves

Maryland's Atlantic coast is under a tropical storm warning as Hurricane Erin churns offshore.

The Category 2 storm is not expected to make direct landfall in the continental U.S., but it will generate deadly rip currents and waves roughly 12 feet in height. Some showers are expected. Waves, flooding and wind are the bigger issues.

Maryland beaches are the main area of concern, as the upper Chesapeake Bay should escape without significant flooding.

Winds are expected to reach the Delmarva Peninsula by 2 a.m. Thursday.

The brunt of the storm is expected on Thursday, but surf conditions are already dangerous. Ocean City and Assateague Island closed their beaches to swimmers starting Tuesday.

A coastal flood watch for Ocean City runs from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Friday. It calls for a storm surge of 1.8 feet, which is classified as minor flooding.

Low-lying areas and coastal properties may flood. Roads could close, but minimal damage is expected.

A high surf advisory forecasts waves of 10 to 12 feet along the Delmarva coast.

"Very dangerous swimming and surfing conditions are expected, as well as the wave action resulting in significant beach erosion," the advisory said. "Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom, causing neck and back injuries."

Hurricane Erin is absolutely huge. The cloud field is over 600 miles across from near Cape Hatteras to just NE of the Bahamas pic.twitter.com/fMAhF9FJoJ
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) August 20, 2025

Just offshore, a tropical storm warning is in effect from the Jersey Shore down to North Carolina, which will be the state closest to the storm. Maryland and Delaware beach towns themselves are not under the warning, but the waters surrounding them are.

The tropical storm warning forecasts winds of 29 to 40 mph with gusts up to 52 mph. Offshore waves could reach 12 to 17 feet.

AccuWeather said open-ocean waves near the center of Erin may approach 50 feet. AccuWeather expects "pounding surf, frequent and strong rip currents and considerable beach erosion from Florida to Maine."

"Hurricane Erin is producing a tremendous amount of wind and wave energy that will create hazardous beach conditions from Florida to New England," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in the forecast story.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Erin was located off the coast of the Florida-Georgia border, about 400 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, which should be one of the hardest-hit areas.

It has maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and is moving north-northwest at 13 mph before an anticipated northeastward turn.

Here is the National Weather Service's three-day forecast for Ocean City:

Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then a chance of showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Northeast wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Windy, with a northeast wind 23 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers before 2am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Windy, with a north wind 22 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Here is the NWS's three-day forecast for Baltimore/Washington International Airport:

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then a slight chance of showers between 3am and 4am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog between 11pm and 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers after 8am. Patchy fog between 8am and noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Northeast wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.