The summer doldrums for East Coast surfers seems to be coming to the end with the arrival of the hurricane season thanks to increased storm activity in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Erin is poised to be the first hurricane of the season as it moves across the ocean and gains steam and wave making energy.
It goes without saying that hurricanes are a mixed bag of emotion, we love them for the good to epic swells they can create and also are wary of the extreme destruction that can come with them. It is our hope that Erin proves to be all swell and no fury for any homes throughout the Caribbean and along the East Coast.
The storm formed just west of the Cabo Verde islands, off the western coast of Africa, and is moving west with what appears to be a very favorable track. With a bit of luck, Erin will not make landfall but will send barrels and stoke throughout the East Coast.
“Early models show that the storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the time it nears the Caribbean islands and we’ll be watching closely to see how things develop.” Spots in the Caribbean, like Barbados, are expected to see rideable surf as soon as tomorrow while New England surfers will have to wait until next week when zones like Long Island, New Jersey, and Rhode Island will come to life and break the summer flat spell.
Froth levels for the surf-starved are likely through the roof as Erin could be an all time swell maker not just for the East Coast of North America but also for Europe as it refracts back across the Atlantic Basin for our friends across the pond. As with any hurricane swell, make safety a priority and know your limits.