Here's how Hurricane Erin is affecting the NYC area
Hurricane Erin, the first of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is tracking hundreds of miles offshore, but the East Coast is still feeling its indirect impacts.
The New York City area -- particularly the Jersey Shore and parts of Long Island -- are seeing dangerous rip currents, high surf and coastal flood concerns as the storm churns north.
New York City beaches are closed to swimming, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is urging people to avoid the water until conditions improve.
Hurricane Erin impacting NYC, Jersey Shore and Long Island beaches
As Erin moves away from the Bahamas and turns north, the jet stream is pushing it away from the East Coast, while also causing the storm to expand in size.
It will stay about 350 to 450 miles offshore, however.
The main timeframe of Erin's local impacts was expected to be Thursday into Friday, when the high surf coincides with high tide.
The coastal flood threat is due to the proximity of the system, along with strong onshore winds, piling up waves and an approaching new moon.
Strong winds will be an issue at the coast, gusting between 35 to 50 mph. The winds, in conjunction with saturated ground from recent heavy rain, may lead to downed trees or power lines.
New York's Hudson Valley, northern and central New Jersey and Connecticut are unlikely to see much from Erin, other than clouds and some breezy conditions.
Dangerous rip currents and high surf
Erin is bringing dangerous rip currents down the Shore and to Long Island's south-facing beaches. Visitors should not swim, regardless of skill level.
A high surf advisory remains in effect into Friday, as waves are expected to reach 15 feet in some areas. New York City and Jersey Shore beaches could see waves from 8 to 13 feet, while Long Island could see 10 to 15 feet.
Despite Erin's departure Friday, we anticipate more of the same, with dangerous rip currents, big waves and then another round of coastal flooding.
Not the 1st Hurricane Erin this close to NYC
The 2025 hurricane would not be the first one named Erin to come within several hundred miles of the New York metropolitan area.
The most notable Hurricane Erin formed in 2001. The Category 3 storm was located around 500 miles southeast of New York City as the September 11th attacks were unfolding.
This year is the seventh time the name Erin has been used since the late 1980s, since none of the previous storms caused enough damage for it to be retired.
The roster of hurricane names rotates every six years and some names are reused. Names are only retired when a storm causes catastrophic destruction, like Ida and Sandy.