UPDATE on Hurricane Erin as It Approaches Florida

Flooding in Disney World

This summer hasn’t brought us any overly dramatic weather so far at Disney World, other than rain, until Hurricane Erin started to form and make its way. Let’s take a look at the latest news!

Last week, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Erin was strengthening to a Category 4. They reported that we could expect heavy rainfall in places such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Leeward Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Rainy day in Disney World

Now it’s being reported that Hurricane Erin has dropped down to a Category 2 hurricane as it was heading north in the Atlantic, according to the Orlando Sentinel. That being said, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been keeping track of two tropical waves that could follow in Erin’s path.

©Orlando Sentinal

As of the NHC 8 AM update today, August 19th, the center of Erin was located about 720 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and 665 miles southwest of Bermuda. It was moving northwest at 7 mph with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. This hurricane has been falling from major hurricane status for the first time since Saturday.

©Orlando Sentinal

It was reported that the storm’s closest approach to Florida will be east of Cape Canaveral early Wednesday. That means winds won’t be a factor, and this should have little impact on any upcoming Disney World plans you have coming up!

©Orlando Sentinal

An advisory was put out for those looking to go for a beach day:

“Nonetheless, significant coastal and boating effects will be felt here. Building swells from Hurricane Erin will lead to an ongoing high risk of rip currents along with breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet producing rough pounding surf with minor beach and dune erosion, particularly during the high tide cycles,” was stated by the National Weather Service. “Overall, there will be dangerous conditions at the local beaches, and entering the surf is not advised.”

It will rain on your Disney World trip, trust us.

So, your next Disney World trip should be fine! Of course, it’s unknown if the storm will begin to strengthen again, as it did before, due to “more favorable environmental shear and upper-level divergence in 24-36 hours should support some re-intensification”. It could also continue to weaken due to its slow movement and larger size, upwelling cooler water. So, looking at what’s there, Disney World is not expected to be impacted. It may rain here and there, but that’s just Florida for you. It’s good that this hurricane won’t have any impact, as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has just begun!

We’re back at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

For more news and updates for your next Disney World trip, make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog!

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