Hurricane Erin Causing Dangerous Surf, Rip Currents on Brevard Beaches; Showers and Thunderstorms Likely Thursday, High of 96
By Space Coast Daily // August 21, 2025
Brevard Ocean Rescue confirmed multiple rescues in Cocoa Beach and Indialantic
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Hurricane Erin, the first major storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, has been churning offshore this week as a powerful Category 2 system — and while the eye is not forecast to make landfall in Florida, Brevard County is already feeling the storm’s far-reaching effects.
Lifeguards and emergency officials warned beachgoers to stay out of the water as dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents battered the Space Coast on Wednesday and Thursday. Large swells generated by Erin have closed sections of Brevard beaches, and red flags were flying up and down the coastline.
Brevard Ocean Rescue confirmed multiple rescues in Cocoa Beach and Indialantic as visitors ignored warnings and attempted to swim in hazardous conditions. Officials said the currents were too strong for even experienced swimmers.
“Erin may be hundreds of miles offshore, but its reach is enormous,” said Brevard County Emergency Management Director John Scott. “This is not the time to be in the water. Conditions are treacherous, and we’re asking the public to take warnings seriously.”
Unlike past hurricanes that have tracked closer to Florida, Erin’s current trajectory keeps its center well off the coast. The National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of 105–110 mph in the storm’s core Wednesday night, located more than 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
In Brevard, winds were gusty at the beaches, but rainfall totals remained light. The primary danger is from the ocean. Waves of 6 to 10 feet are expected to continue pounding Brevard’s shoreline through the weekend, causing significant beach erosion in vulnerable areas such as Indialantic, Satellite Beach, and Cape Canaveral.
Emergency Response and Preparedness
Though no hurricane watches or warnings were issued for Brevard, local officials activated monitoring protocols at the Emergency Operations Center in Rockledge. The county is coordinating with the National Weather Service in Melbourne to track changes in Erin’s path.
Patrick Space Force Base also advised personnel to secure loose outdoor items as a precaution against higher-than-normal winds along the barrier islands. Port Canaveral officials said cruise traffic has not been halted, but adjustments are possible depending on wave action at the channel entrance.
While Hurricane Erin is expected to curve north and eventually out to sea, experts say the storm is a reminder of the dangers Florida faces during peak hurricane season.
“This storm never had Florida in its direct track, yet we’re still experiencing powerful impacts,” said Spectrum News 13 meteorologist Maureen McCann. “It shows that you don’t need a landfall for a hurricane to pose serious risks in Brevard County.”
County leaders urged residents to continue hurricane preparations, noting that September remains the height of the season.
For Brevard County, Hurricane Erin’s legacy will likely be hazardous surf, beach erosion, and rip current rescues rather than wind or rain damage. Still, officials say it’s a wake-up call as the peak of hurricane season arrives.
