Erin (2019)

A small tropical cyclone formed as a tropical depression on 26 August 2019 about 300 nautical miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, after a period of disorganized weather over the southeastern United States and nearby waters. The system became Tropical Storm Erin on 27 August, turned northwestward, then north and northeastward, and lost its tropical characteristics when it became extratropical around 1200 UTC 29 August about 250 nautical miles east of Norfolk, Virginia. The remnant low was absorbed by a larger extratropical low later that day several hundred miles south of Nova Scotia.

Erin did not make landfall and no watches or warnings were required for land areas. The cyclone remained over the western Atlantic for its entire life and moved away from the U.S. East Coast before transitioning to an extratropical system.

The storm’s peak intensity was 35 knots (about 40 mph) with a minimum central pressure near 1002 mb, reached between 1800 UTC 27 August and 1200 UTC 28 August. This was below hurricane strength (Erin remained a tropical storm at peak and was classified as a tropical depression at other times).

Storm surge and rainfall impacts were minimal and there were no reports of storm-related damage. The NHC report lists no measured storm surge heights or notable rainfall totals tied to Erin, and no coastal watches or warnings were issued.

There were no reported deaths—direct or indirect—associated with Erin. The storm’s development was anticipated in advance, though genesis occurred later than some early outlooks expected. Official track forecasts had larger-than-average errors early on because models did not anticipate the storm’s initial southeastward motion, but intensity forecasts were generally accurate in predicting little change in strength.