It’s hurricane season on the East Coast of the United States, and Hurricane Erin is making headlines this week. Most spaghetti models and other forecasts show that Erin won’t even touch the East Coast, so why is the development a concern? Could it make landfall? Get updates on the hurricane below.
Is Tropical Storm Erin a hurricane?
Yes, Erin went from a tropical storm to a hurricane by the end of the week. According to several outlets, it’s a Category 5 storm in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tropical Storm #Erin is now less than 1,000 miles from the Virgin Islands – looks set to become a hurricane by late Friday, then could rapidly intensify as it heads just north of Puerto Rico. High surf and rip currents this weekend in the Leeward Islands. Then high tide heading into Bermuda… pic.twitter.com/5Suhftj7x4
— ginger zee (@ginger_zee) August 14, 2025
Will Hurricane Erin hit the United States?
Spaghetti models have shown that Erin is unlikely to make landfall anywhere on the East Coast, but on Thursday, August 14, forecasters said that Erin was on a slight eastward shift. As of 5 am ET that morning, the system was in the Atlantic Ocean about 860 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, up from 45 mph earlier this week.
There are still no coastal watches or warnings from the NHC.
By Saturday, August 16, forecasters said Erin was not expected to make landfall on the East Coast of the United States. However, the storm will create dangerous surfing and swimming conditions for coastal communities.
What areas could be affected by Hurricane Erin?
The NHC advised that Erin could move close enough to the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to have some impact, but it is still unclear how much of a potential impact Erin could have.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he was sending aid to Puerto Rico ahead of the hurricane.
I just approved the deployment of California resources to Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Erin.
We are excited to help coordinate a life-saving response to Americans in harm’s way.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@Cagovernor) August 14, 2025
“I just approved the deployment of California resources to Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Erin,” Newsom tweeted on Aug. 13. “We are excited to help coordinate a life-saving response for Americans in harm’s way.”
Rough surf and large waves are expected along the Central Florida coast towards Canada due to Hurricane Erin.
