This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce934e9gyryo

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Hurricane Erin's high waves thrash coast of North Carolina Hurricane Erin's high waves thrash coast of North Carolina
(about 3 hours later)
Watch: International Space Station captures striking view of Hurricane ErinWatch: 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. Hurricane Erin is soaking parts of coastal North Carolina as the storm brushes along the US East Coast.
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's Outer Banks are worst affected, with authorities closing a key highway on the barrier islands, but the category 2 storm is not expected to make landfall in the US.
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. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned people to avoid swimming at "most US East Coast beaches due to life-threatening surf and rip currents".
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). Forecasters expect Erin, which is packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h), to peak by Thursday. It has already barrelled through the Caribbean, drenching Puerto Rico.
Waves as high as 30ft (9.14m) are forming off the east coast on Wednesday, bringing high waters to some coastal towns. Meteorologists say the hurricane is unusually big, with tropical storm winds spanning 500 miles.
"Conditions expected to deteriorate soon in the North Carolina Outer Banks," the NHC said in its 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) update. The NHC said in its 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT) update on Wednesday that "weakening is likely to begin by Friday, but Erin is forecast to remain a hurricane into the weekend".
Swimming at most coastal beaches is strongly discouraged "due to life-threatening surf and rip currents". Waves as high as 30ft (9.14m) were forming along the seaboard in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.
The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds. On the Outer Banks, Highway 12 from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Village was closed because conditions were too dangerous.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein warned people to begin preparing for the storm. The state's ferry system has evacuated more than 2,200 people since mandatory evacuations were ordered this week on Hatteras and Ocracoke.
Some beachgoers were still swimming in the sea at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina on Wednesday, despite the town's no-swimming advisory that is in effect till Friday. At least 60 people were rescued at the same beach from rip currents on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein warned people to get ready.
"It's a serious storm," he said. "No-one should be in the ocean.""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.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.
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.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 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.""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.
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.