Hurricane Erin High surf advisories for Massachusetts, storm to bring wind, waves, rip currents

Hurricane Erin, a Category 2 storm with winds at 105 mph, is forecasted to impact Massachusetts with high surf and strong winds while remaining hundreds of miles offshore. A high surf advisory has been issued for parts of Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties from 8 a. m. Tuesday until 8 p. m.

Thursday. StormTeam 5 chief meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon predicts rough surf conditions and wind gusts exceeding 40 mph on the Cape and Islands, with Nantucket potentially facing gusts up to 50 mph. The storm's wind field is expected to expand, affecting coastal areas despite the storm's distance. Waves could reach heights of 15-20 feet south of Nantucket as the storm approaches. Erin's trajectory indicates it will pass by Massachusetts late Thursday or early Friday.

Meteorologists anticipate a busy Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting 6 to 10 hurricanes, with half potentially reaching major status. Another storm, Fernand, is also developing off the western coast of Africa, presenting a 60% chance of formation.