Hurricane Erin is intensifying in the Caribbean and will bring some serious swell to the Delaware beaches.
As of 8 a.m. Aug. 16, the storm is a Category 4 with winds of 145 miles per hour. It will impact Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through the weekend, without making direct landfall. The storm is then forecasted to split the gap between the United States mainland and Bermuda. It is forecasted to stay about 700 miles offshore, however.
How will Hurricane Erin impact Delaware?
Delaware will see its impacts later next week, especially on Aug. 21 and 22. The primary concern for National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Lee is the powerful, dangerous surf and accompanying rip currents.
"We do have the risk for very dangerous rip currents," Lee said.
Current forecasts are showing a 7-to-9-foot swell slamming Delaware beaches on Aug. 21 and 22. Wave heights are measured from the back, so the face of the wave will be a few feet higher.
It will probably be a nice, sunny week, but plan on staying dry if you are going to the beaches. The best way to stay out of dangerous, hurricane swell rip currents is by not going swimming at all.
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If you do get caught in a rip current, stay calm because it will not pull you under. Turn toward the shore and signal for help, and if you can, swim parallel to the beach. If you're too tired, just wait for assistance. Never swim if there are no lifeguards on duty.
A mix of hurricane swell, onshore flow and a full moon high tide could also lead to coastal flooding, Lee said.
Erin path tracker
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Hurricane Erin is a Category 4 and will send big surf to Delaware
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