Hurricane Erin 2025 (Category 5)
Hurricane Erin was a significant tropical cyclone that developed from a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa on August 9, 2025, eventually reaching Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson scale. After forming into a tropical storm on August 11, Erin initially struggled with a poor thermodynamic environment and dry air, inhibiting its development until August 15, when it reached hurricane strength. By August 16, Erin had rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph and a central pressure of 915 mbar as it moved north-northwest of Anguilla. Following an eyewall replacement cycle, the hurricane fluctuated between Category 3 and 4 strengths while tracking near the Bahamas. It eventually weakened to a Category 1 hurricane by August 22 due to southwesterly wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures as it entered its extratropical transition in the North Atlantic.
Hurricane Erin left a destructive mark on the regions it traversed. In Cape Verde, the storm caused nine deaths due to flooding on São Vicente, with 7.57 inches of rainfall recorded within a few hours on August 11. The severe impact prompted the Cape Verde government to declare a disaster for São Vicente and Santo Antão as five people went missing and 1,500 individuals were displaced. The storm's effects were also felt in the northern Caribbean, with rough seas and storms leading to a drowning incident in the Dominican Republic. As Erin continued to move, it impacted the East Coast of the United States, causing major flooding in Duck, North Carolina, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Kiptopeke, Virginia, with minor to moderate coastal flooding reported across states from Maryland to Maine.
