Current Weather, Tropical Weather, and Wildfire Updates: August 16, 2025

Hurricane Erin Undergoes Rapid Intensification

Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, has rapidly intensified and is now an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm.¹ Located just north of the Caribbean islands, the storm is not expected to make landfall on the U.S. East Coast, but it will cause significant impacts.² The U.S. East Coast is expected to experience deadly rip currents and large waves as the hurricane moves through the Atlantic.³ Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are also possible in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.⁴

• Source: National Weather Service: Hurricane Erin Strengthens to a Hurricane
  • URL: https://www.weather.gov/
• Source: National Hurricane Center: Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
  • URL: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWDAT.shtml
• Source: National Hurricane Center: Public Advisory #22A⁵
  • URL: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/

Wildfire Activity Across the U.S. and Canada

There are currently 52 large fires burning across nine geographic areas in the United States.⁶ A total of 18,550 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to these incidents.⁷ So far in 2025, there have been 43,787 wildfires, which have burned a total of 3,731,100 acres. The state of Idaho is currently reporting the most large fires, with ten. In Canada, wildfires continue to burn at an unprecedented rate, with more than 700 active fires.⁸ The smoke from these fires is impacting air quality in the U.S.⁹

• Source: National Interagency Fire Center: National Fire News¹⁰
  • URL: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

Dangerous Heat Continues in Southern U.S.

Dangerous heat with heat indices between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit will continue through the weekend for portions of the Southern U.S., particularly in western and southern Alabama.¹¹

• Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office Birmingham, AL¹²
  • URL: https://www.weather.gov/bmx/

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