Hurricane Erin tracker: North Carolina under state of emergency
"To folks on the coast, now is the time to prepare," North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein warned on Tuesday.
Here's the latest forecast:
MORE: Above-normal activity predicted for remainder of 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA says
The Outer Banks
While the storm won't make landfall on the East Coast, it has triggered a tropical storm warning for North Carolina's Outer Banks and mandatory evacuations for some Outer Banks residents and visitors.
The Outer Banks is expected to get heavy rain, winds over 40 mph and a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet this week.
A high surf advisory has also been issued, with destructive, large breaking waves up to 20 feet in the forecast.
Coastal damage is likely from large waves destroying protective dunes. The flooding will also extend inland, likely impacting roads.
MORE: Rip currents: What to know about the dangers and how to escape
Tracking Erin
Dangerous rip currents and waves are forecast for the East Coast through Friday, with high surf advisories stretching from Florida to Massachusetts.
More than 50 people were rescued from the ocean at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on Monday, local officials said, and no swimming is recommended at Wrightsville Beach from Tuesday through Friday.
The popular beach towns of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Wildwood, New Jersey, banned swimming on Monday due to the rough surf, while New York City is closing its beaches for swimming on Wednesday and Thursday.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday urged all beachgoers in the state to avoid going in the ocean this week, and added, "We need to anticipate what could be meaningful flooding on the back end of this."
On Tuesday, waves are picking up from Florida to the Outer Banks, and then they'll span from Florida to New Jersey on Wednesday.
Wednesday night into Thursday, waves could rise up to 20 feet in the Carolinas as Erin makes its closest pass to the Outer Banks.
On Thursday, massive waves will hit beaches in the Northeast, including the Jersey Shore and Long Island. These waves will be destructive along the Northeast coastline, especially in vulnerable areas, from the Jersey Shore to Rhode Island.
Erin will make its closest pass to the Outer Banks on Thursday, bringing the heavy rain and strong winds. Erin will then head out to sea.
ABC News' Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.
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New Jersey declares state of emergency as Hurricane Erin batters East Coast
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Hurricane Erin triggers states of emergency in N.J. and N.C.
Hurricane Erin triggered state-of-emergency declarations in New Jersey and North Carolina as it passes along the East Coast on Thursday afternoon and creates life-threatening conditions that are expected to last through the weekend. Photo by EPA/NOAA Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Hurricane Erin's effects have triggered state-of-emergency declarations in New Jersey and North Carolina as the storm system moves along the East Coast. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon, while North Caroline Governor Josh Stein declared one on Tuesday that remains in effect. "Over the past couple of days, we have seen the effects of Hurricane Erin along the Jersey Shore in the form of dangerous rip tides," Murphy said in a news release. "As the storm moves past New Jersey over the next 23 hours, we are expecting high surf and rip currents, coastal and flash flooding, and a high erosion risk in parts of the state," Murphy added. North Carolina officials expect similar conditions to continue there after Hurricane Erin already has impacted Hatteras Island. "Dangerous conditions, including rip currents and coastal flooding, are expected through the weekend," Stein said in an online announcement on Thursday. "With flooding peaking tonight, please avoid driving on roads with standing water," he added. An evacuation order was issued on Tuesday for residents and others along the Outer Banks. Stein said state officials are monitoring the situation, and an emergency response team is working to keep roads clear and people safe. Among emergency preparations, the North Carolina National Guard is on standby, and the state's emergency response team has search-and-rescue teams ready to deploy if needed. State Highway 12 on Hatteras Island is closed due to extensive ocean overwash and dune breaches in multiple locations, according to Dare County, N.C., officials. The northern ends of Hatteras Village and Buxton, and along Pea Island, are especially impacted by the hurricane. North Carolina Department of Transportation crews are working to clear sand and water from the state highway and repairing damaged dunes. The highway will stay closed until NCDOT officials say it's safe to travel on the roadway. The Category 2 Hurricane Erin had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph while positioned 370 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., late Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Erin is moving northeasterly at 20 mph and away from the East Coast, but its effects include storm surges of between 2 feet and 4 feet and related flooding along coastal areas from North Carolina to Sandy Hook, N.J. The storm system also is creating dangerous rip tides alongmuch of the East Coast, which makes swimming very dangerous.
