Large waves, powerful winds expected as Erin races out to sea
Erin is no longer a hurricane, but hazardous conditions continue for coastal portions of Atlantic Canada
Eleven days after it first formed and six days after it peaked as a scale-topping Category 5 storm, Erin lost its tropical characteristics as the system raced past Nova Scotia on Friday.
While it’s no longer classified as a hurricane, the large and powerful low-pressure system will continue to generate large waves and dangerous rip currents along the East Coast into this weekend.
DON'T MISS: Hurricane Erin is huge, how does it compare to previous storms?
Beware of dangerous surf
Hazardous surf and rip currents are expected across the Atlantic coastlines of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island. Wave heights of 3 to 5 metres are forecast along the Nova Scotia coast and the southern Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland.
Cloud cover and gusty winds across much of the Maritimes will be the primary indicators of Erin's presence as it remains offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.
"The highest water levels along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia are expected to occur with the high tide this evening," said the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) in its Friday morning update.
According to the CHC, no wind impacts are expected, but gusts up to 70 km/h are possible along exposed areas of the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia and the southeastern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland on Saturday.
WATCH: Atlantic Canada's coastal impacts from Erin
Erin's wave field could span 5,000 km
Erin is a very large storm. Tropical storm force winds stretched more than 700 km from the centre of the system on Friday evening, according to the final advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
The extensive wave field of the storm is projected to span over 5,000 km, reaching from Bermuda and east of Atlantic Canada to Europe in the coming week.
STAY SAFE: Rip currents are a natural hazard along coasts – here’s how to spot them
Another tropical system to keep our eyes on
Warm tropical waters continue to support the formation of tropical cyclones, with another system forecast to follow a track similar to Erin.
This will require close monitoring into mid-next week for Atlantic coastal communities.
