Live Updates, August 19: Tracking Hurricane Erin's US Threats (And More) Jonathan Erdman August 20, 2025 at 2:04 AM Hurricane Erin is churning through the Atlantic Ocean, and it's just one of the big weather stories wer'e keeping an eye on today.
- - Live Updates, August 19: Tracking Hurricane Erin's US Threats (And More)
Jonathan Erdman August 20, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Hurricane Erin is churning through the Atlantic Ocean, and it's just one of the big weather stories wer'e keeping an eye on today.
For the very latest on Erin's track, you can find our complete forecast here. For everyone else, we're monitoring major weather news happening around the globe. Here are the latest updates as they come in:
(01:04 p.m. EDT) 'Buoy' What a Ride
Imagine riding the waves generated by a hurricane. A NOAA buoy north of the center of Hurricane Erin about 400 miles east-northeast of Nassau, Bahamas, is getting lashed by wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph and is riding 28-foot waves as of just before noon today.
Not only can you see the data this buoy is sending back here, but you can also see pictures of the conditions the buoy is experiencing taken every hour. The photos are enough to make me reach for motion sickness pills.
(12:31 p.m. EDT) Hail Hits Houston Area
Suburbs outside of Houston were on alert last night as storms dropped half-inch hailstones. The National Weather Service urged residents northwest of the city to stay indoors for safety.
Some of that hail was captured on video, pelting cars. Forecasters say that stormy pattern could stick around through the week.
(11:19 a.m. EDT) Calm Down Surfers, Calm Down
From staff writer Renee Straker:
Virginia's Department of Emergency Management found a funny way to warn surfers about the dangerous conditions as Hurricane Erin passes offshore.
This post on X warned that only the most experienced surfers should even attempt to ride the waves right now.
Virginia Beach is hosting the annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships this week. More than 300 surfers from nearly three dozen countries are taking part and while many surfers are looking forward to the potential of 8-12 foot waves, organizers told local TV station WAVY that they'll be monitoring conditions and will move heats to different days if the surf gets too rough.
(10:26 a.m. EDT) Extreme Heat Watch In Effect For L.A.
From meteorologist Tiffany Savona:
An Extreme heat watch is in effect for much of Southern California, including the Los Angeles Basin Thursday through Friday.
High temperatures are forecast to range between 95-105 degrees. Downtown LA could reach the upper 90s, which will put the current daily record of 96 degrees set back in 1982 in jeopardy. Keep in mind the average high in L.A. this time of year ranges from the upper 70s to low 80s.
The risk for heat related illnesses will be going up for anyone, especially young children, the elderly and those who do not have air conditioning. Please take this seriously and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
(10:22 a.m. EDT) Erin Endangers Rodanthe Beachfront Homes
From senior engagement editor Ron Brackett:
Hurricane Erin's relentless waves are once again threatening ocean-front homes in the villages of Rodanthe and Buxton, North Carolina.
Since 2020, 11 privately owned homes have collapsed on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Six of those happened last year.
Mark Gray of WM Dunn Construction told WRAL that "two houses for sure are on the verge of collapse" in Rodanthe.
Dave Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, "told the station, "Obviously, if there's very strong waves that are smacking into the pilings, it's going to increase the probability of a problem. It's hard to predict, but they're certainly very, very vulnerable and exposed."
(10:19 a.m. EDT) 'Satan's Storm' Sends People Running From Spain Beach
From staff writer Renee Straker:
Some scary video shows tourists scampering off a beach in Granada, Spain, as a 'Satan's Storm' moved in. Ok, enough alliteration - the rare weather phenomenon is actually called a heat burst and it caused temperatures to spike to 104 degrees within minutes, add to that wind gusts up to 54 mph.
Multiple waterspouts were reported and 5 people had to be rescued from the sea.
(10:10 a.m. EDT) Much of East Coast Under High Rip Current Risk
From senior writer Chris DeWeese:
The National Weather Service is continuing to sound the alarm about the life-threatening surf and rip currents that Hurricane Erin will generate over the next several days. As their rip current risk map shows, much of the East Coast is at red, or "high" risk level. Beachgoers, the NWS emphasizes, should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags.
rip current map(10:06 a.m. EDT) Buckley Draw Fire Burns 427 Acres Near Provo, Utah
From producer Carmen Molina:
The Buckley Draw Fire was discovered on Sunday, August 17th, near Provo's Slate Canyon in Utah. The U.S. Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest said as of Monday evening it had burned approximately 427 acres with 0% containment, issuing a temporary closure order for the area impacted by the fire.
(10:02 a.m. EDT) Myrtle Beach Officials Warn Swimmers
From staff writer Renee Straker:
A single red flag warning is up along beaches in Myrtle Beach today, meaning swimmers shouldn't go farther than waist-deep in the ocean and boogie boarding won't be allowed.
In an announcement city officials said they expect life-threatening rip currents through Friday.
(09:54 a.m. EDT) First Taste Of Autumn Coming For Millions
From meteorologist Jennifer Gray:
A strong cold front will sweep across the northern U.S. from Canada this weekend, and bring some nice, cooler air with it. For many, this will be their first taste of fall.
Anywhere from the Midwest to the Plains could see temperatures 10-20 degrees below average.
Highs in the Midwest will go from the 90s in some places on Saturday to the 60s on Sunday and Monday. And morning lows early next week could dip into the 40s or low 50s over much of the Midwest and parts of the interior Northeast.
You can see national daily highs and lows maps here.
(09:44 a.m. EDT) Double Red Flag Day in the Outer Banks
From meteorologist Tiffany Savona:
Tuesday has been declared a double red flag day from Duck to Ocracoke. North Carolina. This means ocean conditions are life-threatening and ocean swimming is prohibited.
In this case, powerful rip currents and 5- to 8-foot breaking waves make ocean conditions life-threatening for swimmers and ocean rescue personnel.
As mentioned earlier, we explain what all the different flags mean at the beach here.
(09:37 a.m. EDT) 'Red Sky At Morning' In Beijing
From senior writer Chris DeWeese:
Here's an early contender for one of our top photos of the week: a stark, crimson sunset this morning in Beijing, China. For centuries, the saying "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning" was used by seafarers to predict the weather, and, according to our meteorologists, the rhymes are rooted in real science.
Did you miss last week's top photos? Take a look at them here.
A general view of the city with clouds at the sunrise on August 19, 2025 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)(09:32 a.m. EDT) What Do The Beach Flags Mean?
From managing editor Sean Breslin:
If you're hanging out at a beach along the East Coast this week, first of all, stay out of the water. But secondly, you'll want to know what those colorful flags on the lifeguard stand actually mean.
Thankfully, we have an article that will serve as your handy guide to beach flags and what to do when you see each one. Check it out here.
(09:28 a.m. EDT) Beaches Closed In New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland
From staff writer Renee Straker:
High waves and rip currents have led to beach closures in multiple mid-Atlantic states this week.
New Jersey announced closures along the Jersey Shore at Bay Head, Wildwood and Margate.
Swimming and fishing have also been suspended at Island Beach State Park.
Swimming has been suspended at Delaware's Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island.
State park officials in Maryland say Assateague State Park is closed to swimming due to dangerous surf conditions.
(09:10 a.m. EDT) Size, Not Category
From senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman:
Erin is now a Category 2 hurricane as of 8 a.m. While its peak winds have "weakened" from the past few days and it's no longer a "major" hurricane - a term for Category 3 winds or higher - that doesn't matter much at all going forward.
What matters more is how large an area Erin's winds cover. The NHC says its tropical storm-force winds are currently up to 390 statute miles wide. That's about the distance from Boston to Washington, D.C. By Thursday, those tropical storm winds are forecast to be up to 630 miles across, about the distance from New York City to Charleston, South Carolina.
All other factors equal, a larger storm will generate higher swells, higher surf at the coast, which could lead to coastal flooding. We have more on why that is here.
So, it really isn't much about Erin's "Category" winds going forward. It will be a large storm, regardless.
Hurricane Erin size(09:05 a.m. EDT) Overnight Evacuations In Spain Due To Wildfires
From producer Carmen Molina:
Dozens of residents of León, Spain, were evacuated overnight due to the threats from several forest fires, especially the Anilares del Sil forest fire. Among the affected towns are Faro, Cariseda, Peranzanes, Trascastro, Chano, Guímara and Argayo del Sil in the El Bierzo area. This video from the Spanish Civil Guard shows officers helping older adults enter a shelter.
(08:57 a.m. EDT) Hatteras, Ocracoke Residents Must Leave Today
From senior engagement editor Ron Brackett:
Mandatory evacuation for residents of Hatteras Island was to begin at 8 a.m. today. Visitors to the island in North Carolina's Outer Banks had been ordered to leave beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.
Officials in Dare County, where a state of emergency exists, warned that N.C. Highway 12 could become impassable beginning with the high tide at 5 p.m. today.
On Ocracoke Island in Hyde County, mandatory evacuation for visitors started at 8 p.m. Sunday. The evacuation order for residents began at 6 a.m. today. Hyde County commissioners have also enacted a state of emergency.
(08:52 a.m. EDT) Dramatic Rescue In Thane, India
From senior writer Chris DeWeese:
India's financial capital, Mumbai, continues to face extreme weather conditions today, with the city remaining under a red alert for the second consecutive day. Relentless heavy rains have led to widespread flooding, stopping transportation and burying streets under water. A staggering 19.69 inches of rain have fallen in just 84 hours, leaving much of the city and surrounding areas waterlogged. Dramatic video captured in the city of Thane, 23 miles northeast of Mumbai, shows two locals swimming through a flooded overpass to rescue two people who were trapped in their vehicle.
(08:44 a.m. EDT) Two Other Areas To Watch In The Atlantic Besides Erin
From meteorologist Jennifer Gray:
The National Hurricane Center is watching two areas of disturbed weather in the Atlantic that could become our next named systems. One is a cluster of thunderstorms in the central Atlantic that could become a tropical depression later this week. Regardless of development, it will lead to unsettled weather near the Leeward Islands as early as Friday.
Another area is in the eastern Atlantic. While it has a low chance of developing right now, it could enter an environment more favorable in the next few days. Beyond that timeframe, conditions will become unfavorable for development.
The next two names on the hurricane list are Fernand and Gabrielle.
(08:32 a.m. EDT) Dozens Pulled From Dangerous Currents
From senior engagement editor Ron Brackett:
Hurricane Erin is causing dangerous rip currents all along the East Coast, and many beachgoers are getting caught in them.
As many as 85 people had to be rescued from the dangerous currents along North Carolina's southeast coast Monday. Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue reported pulling up to 70 people from the water. The Surf City Fire Department reported 15 rip current rescues.
Rip currents can be one of the most hidden dangers when it comes to tropical systems. They can be deadly even thousands of miles away from the storm — here's what you .
Source: "AOL General News"
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