Hurricane Erin intensifies to a Category 5. Here’s what it means for Hilton Head.
While Hurricane Erin strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Saturday in the Caribbean, the first Atlantic hurricane of the season will only nod to Hilton Head as it passes offshore early next week.
With Erin likely to remain 600 miles from Hilton Head’s beaches, vacationers should know the rapidly intensifying hurricane will still bring life threatening swells and rip currents to the East Coast early next week. Hilton Head’s rip current risk will remain low Saturday and Sunday.
Rip currents generated by tropical cyclones are the third highest cause of direct hurricane fatalities in the United States, even when the storms remain far offshore, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Erin is currently moving west, with forecasters expecting it to move close enough to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to bring rain and possible flooding on Sunday. The storm will then turn to the northwest Saturday night and continue up through the Atlantic, remaining far from the East Coast.
In addition to rip currents, Hurricane Erin could also bring coastal erosion and minor flooding to the area early next week.
Update: at 12:35 p.m Saturday, this story was updated to reflect that Erin strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane.
This story was originally published August 16, 2025 at 11:28 AM.
