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| Hurricane Erin's high waves thrash coast of North Carolina | Hurricane Erin's high waves thrash coast of North Carolina |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: International Space Station captures striking view of Hurricane Erin | Watch: International Space Station captures striking view of Hurricane Erin |
| Large stretches of the US East Coast are facing large waves as Hurricane Erin churns along the seaboard, spawning rip currents and flooding. | |
| The category two storm, currently over the Atlantic Ocean, is not expected to make landfall in the US, but authorities have cautioned that storm surges and road closures are likely. | |
| North Carolina is expected to be one of the worst hit areas, although no-swimming advisories have been issued at beaches as far north as New Jersey and Delaware. | |
| Erin has already barrelled through the Caribbean, drenching Puerto Rico, and is packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h), said the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). | Erin has already barrelled through the Caribbean, drenching Puerto Rico, and is packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h), said the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). |
| Waves as high as 30ft (9.14m) are forming off the east coast on Wednesday, bringing high waters to some coastal towns. | |
| "Conditions expected to deteriorate soon in the North Carolina Outer Banks," the NHC said in its 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) update. | |
| Swimming at most coastal beaches is strongly discouraged "due to life-threatening surf and rip currents". | Swimming at most coastal beaches is strongly discouraged "due to life-threatening surf and rip currents". |
| The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds. | The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds. |
| Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein warned people to begin preparing for the storm. | |
| "It's a serious storm," he said. "No-one should be in the ocean." | |
| Stein said the state had three "swift-water rescue teams" and 200 National Guard troops ready to help people with boats, aircrafts and other vehicles. | |
| Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations of Hatteras and Ocracoke amid fears that the main highway linking them to other islands could become impassable. | Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations of Hatteras and Ocracoke amid fears that the main highway linking them to other islands could become impassable. |
| Stein urged people to take the orders seriously, telling them to "take action now before it's too late". | Stein urged people to take the orders seriously, telling them to "take action now before it's too late". |
| Lily, the hostess of Miller's Waterfront Restaurant in the Outer Banks town of Nags Head, told the BBC the wind was "starting to pick up" and the weather had become cloudy. | Lily, the hostess of Miller's Waterfront Restaurant in the Outer Banks town of Nags Head, told the BBC the wind was "starting to pick up" and the weather had become cloudy. |
| The storm was not currently affecting business, she said, adding that "most weather channels are overreacting" - although she added it might be a different story farther south in Hatteras Island. | The storm was not currently affecting business, she said, adding that "most weather channels are overreacting" - although she added it might be a different story farther south in Hatteras Island. |
| At least 60 people were rescued on Monday from rip currents – which flow away from the shore and can quickly pull people into the ocean - at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. | |
| Vicki Harrison, who works at the Harbor House Seafood Market on Hatteras Island, said she had chosen not to join those evacuating. | Vicki Harrison, who works at the Harbor House Seafood Market on Hatteras Island, said she had chosen not to join those evacuating. |
| "They evacuated all the tourists on Monday morning, and the residents on Tuesday," she told the BBC. "But we chose to stay." | "They evacuated all the tourists on Monday morning, and the residents on Tuesday," she told the BBC. "But we chose to stay." |
| She said her family had lived in Hatteras for 40 years and had to evacuate several times. | |
| "We would have more trouble evacuating than staying," she said. | |
| "We're very safe, we're all hunkered down, we've got plenty of food and plenty of water." | |
| Storm surge warnings are in place in the state from Cape Lookout to Duck. | Storm surge warnings are in place in the state from Cape Lookout to Duck. |
| Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia, are expected to face possible tropical storm conditions over the next two days. | Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia, are expected to face possible tropical storm conditions over the next two days. |
| Meteorologists warn the hurricane is unusually big, with tropical storm winds spanning 230 miles from its core. | |
| On Wednesday and Thursday, the NHC said Erin would move between Bermuda and the US East Coast. | On Wednesday and Thursday, the NHC said Erin would move between Bermuda and the US East Coast. |