Staff Reporter
Hurricane Erin intensified into a monstrous Category 5 storm over the Atlantic Ocean on August 16, marking one of the strongest systems of the season. Though the storm is not projected to make landfall in the United States, officials warn that the East Coast will face widespread danger in the form of life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) cautioned that the impacts of Hurricane Erin will stretch far beyond the storm’s track. As the system churns offshore, it will generate powerful ocean swells that could endanger swimmers and beachgoers along much of the U.S. East Coast in the days ahead.
Risk Already Building Along Florida Beaches
The National Weather Service office in Jacksonville, Florida, reported that moderate rip current risks had already developed on August 16 along parts of northeastern Florida. Conditions are expected to worsen and expand along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin continues to move north.
“Rip current threats are likely to increase along the East Coast of the United States early next week,” the NHC said in a public advisory, stressing that even beaches far from the storm’s center could see dangerous waves.
Dangerous Surf to Reach New England
Meteorologists emphasize that Hurricane Erin’s influence will not remain confined to the Southeast.
“Dangerous surf conditions could reach as far as New England beaches,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told USA TODAY, underscoring that the storm’s size and strength will make its effects widespread.
The late-summer timing makes the threat particularly concerning. National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan warned that these are the very conditions when tragedies occur.
“The weather may look perfect for a beach trip, but rip current fatalities tend to happen during exactly these situations,” Brennan said. “Rip currents are often invisible from shore, and they can appear suddenly.”
Rip Currents: Silent Killers of the Coastline
Rip currents are narrow, fast-moving channels of water that surge away from the shore and pull swimmers into deeper waters. They can flow at speeds faster than an Olympic swimmer, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Unlike waves that crash toward the shore, rip currents drag swimmers outward. While they do not pull people underwater, they often leave them exhausted as they try to fight against the flow. This struggle frequently ends in drowning.
Data from NOAA highlights the danger: rip currents account for the majority of deaths among beach swimmers each year. Since 2010, over 800 people have died from rip current drownings. In 2025 alone, 52 surf zone deaths have been recorded so far, with nearly half linked directly to rip currents.
What To Do If You Get Caught in a Rip Current
Officials stress that the most important step is to remain calm. Rip currents will not drag swimmers underwater but will carry them away from shore. Swimming against the current is the biggest mistake, as it leads to exhaustion.
Instead, experts advise swimming parallel to the shoreline until out of the current’s grip, then angling back toward the beach.
“Don’t panic, don’t fight the water. Work with it,” Brennan said.
What If Someone Else Is Struggling?
Rip current rescues pose an added danger: many drown while attempting to save others.
“Plenty of people drown trying to rescue friends or family in rip currents,” NOAA warns in its Rip Current Survival Guide.
If a swimmer is caught, the best response is to get help from a lifeguard immediately. If a lifeguard is not nearby, throw a flotation device and call 911, rather than entering the water yourself. Directing the person to swim parallel to shore may help them escape.
Lifeguard Shortage Raises Concern
The U.S. continues to face a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, leaving many popular beaches under-supervised. That shortage, combined with the looming threats from Hurricane Erin, could heighten risks for swimmers in the coming weeks.
Officials urge beachgoers to always check warning flags before entering the water, and to stay within sight of professional lifeguards whenever possible.
As Hurricane Erin powers through the Atlantic as a Category 5 storm, its force will be felt far beyond its center. Even without landfall, the storm poses a significant threat to the East Coast, where rip currents and dangerous surf can turn a summer outing into tragedy. With lifeguard shortages leaving many beaches vulnerable, officials urge swimmers to stay alert, follow warnings, and never underestimate the ocean’s hidden dangers. In the days ahead, safety awareness may prove to be the strongest defense against Hurricane Erin’s reach.
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