Evacuation orders were issued in North Carolina Tuesday as Hurricane Erin continued to swirl upward across the Atlantic Ocean and two disturbances followed behind it.
While Erin was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday morning, the storm is expected to continue growing in size, with its “considerably larger than average” wind fields nearing the North Carolina coast, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said at 7 a.m. Tropical storm and storm surge conditions are possible there beginning Wednesday.
A tropical storm watch was issued for the central Bahamas and the North Carolina coast between Beaufort Inlet and Duck, including Pamlico Sound. A storm surge watch is also in effect from Beaufort Inlet to Duck.
Evacuation orders were issued for North Carolina’s Outer Banks ahead of the storm, according to ABC News.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, Erin was 720 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
The hurricane was producing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph as it moved northwest at 7 mph. While forecasters said Erin could maintain its strength and even intensify slightly this week, the NHC’s latest forecast track shows it will likely be significantly weakened by Saturday.
While Erin is not a threat to Louisiana, it is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the Bahamas, the east coast of the U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada over the next several days.
Click here to find a full list of watches and warnings related to Hurricane Erin.
Tropical wave near the Leeward Islands
Dylan Federico, a Miami-based meteorologist who grew up in New Orleans, referred to two disturbances behind Erin, as a “wave train” Monday, as they follow in Erin’s general path.
But while Erin turned away from the U.S., it’s still too early to tell where the Atlantic waves will go.
One system was near the Leeward Islands over the central tropical Atlantic Tuesday morning, and forecasters said it has a good chance of forming.
Forecasters gave the wave a 60% chance of becoming a tropical depression or storm in the next week as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, and a 10% chance in the next two days.
The wave was moving west-northwest at about 20 mph and could be in the vicinity of the northern Leeward Islands on Friday.
Tropical wave off west coast of Africa
Forecasters first highlighted another tropical wave off the west coast of Africa Monday evening.
The wave was a few hundred miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands Tuesday morning, producing a concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms.
While environmental conditions appear generally favorable for further development over the next couple of days, the system could face a less favorable environment later this week as it moves west at about 15 mph.
Forecasters said the system has a 30% of developing into a tropical depression or storm within the next week.
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