Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 storm, has triggered a state of emergency in North Carolina, where residents and visitors along the Outer Banks are under evacuation orders.
The Outer Banks is also under a tropical storm warning; Erin is forecast to hit the islands with heavy rain and rough winds on Wednesday night.
Erin will intensify on Wednesday, and its wind field will widen significantly, fueling dangerous rip currents and massive waves along the East Coast throughout the week. Many beaches have banned swimming as Erin nears.
