Beachfront property owners braced for the worst amid predictions of a storm surge of up to 4 feet and significant coastal erosion. Powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected to slam beaches, especially in North Carolina, for 48 hours or more as the hurricane crawls northward offshore through at least Thursday.

People in the Outer Banks should shelter in place, authorities said. Meanwhile, life-threatening rip currents are likely at beaches along the East Coast, according to forecasters.

Storm surge warnings and tropical storm warnings have been issued in part of North Carolina, and conditions are starting to deteriorate as Erin lurks off the East Coast of the United States.

The effects of Hurricane Erin rocked the Outer Banks of North Carolina overnight, battering it with storm surge, flooding and destructive waves, despite it never making landfall. The unusually large Category 2 storm is expected to bring coastal flooding ...

FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel reports live from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where the outer rain bands of Hurricane Erin are battering the Outer Banks with tropical-storm-force winds and monster waves that could reach upwards of 17 feet.

Local officials issued evacuation orders for parts of the Outer Banks, warning that the storm might wash out roads.

Hurricane Erin strengthened on Wednesday as it headed north in the Atlantic. Here's the latest update, path, warnings and more for the Jersey Shore.

Storm surge flooding and tropical storm conditions from Hurricane Erin are forecast for the Outer Banks of North Carolina starting Wednesday evening. At 5 p.