Hurricane Erin To Strengthen, Pose 'Life-Threatening' Risks To VA

A re-intensified Category 4 Hurricane Erin with 140 mph winds will continue to strengthen and turn northeastward this week, creating "life-threatening surf and rip currents" along Virginia's Atlantic coast, according to the latest forecast.

Despite remaining well offshore, the hurricane is expected to impact the state'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 Virginia beaches.

"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."

Maximum wave heights between 10 and 12 feet are forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, WTKR in Norfolk said.

On Monday and Tuesday, Erin will bring waves reaching 6 feet to the East Coast, ABC News said. 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 D.C. area forecast from the NWS:

Monday: A slight chance of showers before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night: A slight chance of showers after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 3 to 7 mph.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.