While it’s not expected to make landfall, there are plenty of Hurricane Erin closures as the storm continues to head north in the Atlantic Ocean. As of Tuesday morning, the storm is classified as a Category 2 storm. That means winds are sustained at 105 miles per hour.
Hurricane Erin is expected to stay at sea. However, strong waves and rip currents are closing popular destinations along the East Coast.
Here are the latest Hurricane Erin closures as of Tuesday:
The National Park Service (NPS) announced it’s closing Cape Lookout National Seashore. The destination on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a popular summer destination. However, anyone who’s been to the small barrier islands that line the state’s coastline knows that hurricanes are a serious concern there.
A strong coastal surge is expected, which could bring flooding to the area. The water is expected to rise before potentially strong winds arrive. The concern has closed Cape Lookout National Seashore as of noon on Tuesday. Ferry service, the Light Station Visitors Center, and the nearby museum will also remain closed until at least Friday. They also canceled reservations for Great Island until the weekend.
“I hope Erin will remain off the coast and head out to sea, but hope is not a good way forward,” said Acting-Superintendent Katherine Cushinberry. “I really hate to impact people’s plans, and we aim to reopen as soon as possible afterwards.”
Surfline, a surfing conditions app, is reporting the chance of large waves. They are indicating the possibility of waves up to 12 feet near Cape Lookout.
Monitoring Hurricane Erin Closures
It’s important to note that with hurricanes, conditions change constantly as weather experts continue to monitor the situation.
For instance, Hurricane Erin closures earlier this week impacted the NPS sites on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Those closures have now ended and all three sites have reopened to the public.
Anyone with plans along the East Coast should keep an eye on the storm and check with local authorities about conditions and possible closures.