New Yorkers may enjoy sunny skies this week — but coastal conditions will be anything but calm.
Hurricane Erin, which rapidly intensified into the first major storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, is now a Category 4 hurricane churning its way up the East Coast; and forecasters say it could bring dangerous surf, flooding, and strong winds to the New York City area by the middle and end of the week. In fact, all of NYC beaches are closed on Wednesday, August 20th, and Thursday, August 21st.
NYC Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa said in a statement, “We strongly urge all New Yorkers to heed these warnings and not risk their lives by entering the water.”
Experts say the storm is extremely serious, and even posted one of the largest 24-hour pressure drops ever recorded in the Atlantic before September.
“Erin will go down in the history books as one of the fastest rapidly intensifying storms in history,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.
According to multiple AccuWeather media advisories, Erin exploded into a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph over the weekend — before leveling off as a still-dangerous Category 4 system.
Its closest approach to the U.S. could come Thursday, when the eye is forecast to pass 150–250 miles east of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
The Carolinas could see 60–80 mph wind gusts, storm surge up to 6 feet, and waves of 15–20 feet crashing ashore, according to AccuWeather.
And while Erin is not expected to make landfall in New York, its massive wind field — extending more than 230 miles from the center — will push dangerous conditions all the way up the coast.
The National Hurricane Center warns that Erin’s size means “life-threatening surf and rip currents will extend hundreds of miles from the eye,” with the entire Northeast coast under risk.
Impacts for NYC & Long Island
- Life-threatening rip currents and 15–20 ft waves expected Thursday–Friday
- Minor coastal flooding possible during high tide in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island
- 20–40 mph wind gusts along the shoreline, making marine conditions extremely hazardous
- Long Island, the Jersey Shore, and Southern New England can also expect rough surf, beach erosion, and flooding at high tide
It’s expected to be so bad that Mayor Eric Adams have officially ordered that NYC beaches would be closed on Wednesday and Thursday (August 20 – 21).
Meanwhile on Long Island, the Town of Hempstead too have already announced that swimming will be banned at its beaches starting Wednesday, with full closures on Thursday.
Safety reminders for New Yorkers
- Stay out of the water — rip currents will be deadly.
- Check NWS + NYC Emergency Management updates for advisories.
- Avoid low-lying coastal areas Thursday and Friday, especially during high tide.
Even if Hurricane Erin stays offshore, New York City will feel its power in the form of rough surf, strong winds, and flooding risk — a reminder of how vulnerable the region remains during peak hurricane season.