Current Weather and Tropical Updates: August 21, 2025

Hurricane Erin Continues to Affect U.S. East Coast

Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds, is located in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and continues to move away from the U.S. coast.¹ Despite its track away from land, the storm is large, and its outer bands are still impacting coastal areas.² A Storm Surge Warning remains in effect for parts of North Carolina, and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for coastal areas of Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.³ Dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents, and significant coastal flooding are expected to continue along the Mid-Atlantic coast.⁴

• National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/
• National Hurricane Center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• FOX Weather: https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/

Additional Tropical Activity in the Atlantic

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring other systems in the Atlantic.⁵

• Near the Leeward Islands: A tropical wave located a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands has a high chance (70%) of forming a tropical depression over the weekend as it moves westward.⁶
• Eastern Tropical Atlantic: Another tropical wave located west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands has a medium chance (40%) of developing into a short-lived tropical depression over the next day or so.⁷
• Central Atlantic: A small area of low pressure southwest of the Azores has a low chance (30%) of development.⁸
• National Hurricane Center – Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php

Wildfire Updates

Wildfire activity continues in both the U.S. and Canada.⁹

• California Wildfires: Several large wildfires are active in California, with the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties at 95% containment and the Orleans Complex at 91% containment.¹⁰ A new fire, the Coyote Fire in El Dorado, started yesterday and is 5% contained.¹¹
• Newfoundland and Labrador: In Canada, the Kingston, Paddy’s Pond, and Martin Lake wildfires are being actively fought, with suppression efforts supported by recent weather conditions.¹²
• CAL FIRE Incidents: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – News Releases: https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2025/ffa/0821n01/

Disclaimer: This information was researched and curated with the assistance of AI, but reviewed and verified by a human.