Hurricane Erin is expected to impact the Outer Banks in North Carolina, sending massive waves crashing into the islands.

Several beaches along North Carolina's Outer Banks have already closed and evacuations are underway due to the expected storm surge from Hurricane Erin. FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel has the latest from Rodanthe.

Evacuation orders were issued in North Carolina Tuesday as Hurricane Erin continued to swirl upward across the Atlantic Ocean and two disturbances followed behind it.

Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of beachgoing tourists were keeping a watchful eye on massive Hurricane Erin on Tuesday, Aug. 19, as large waves and rough surf driven by the powerful storm were taking aim at the Atlantic Coast from Central Florida to Canada.

Hurricane Erin formed early Friday, Aug. 15, marking the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season before exploding over the weekend.

Hurricane Erin is expected to grow in size and strength as it moves north through the Atlantic this week. Forecasters expect it to pass well offshore of North Carolina on Wednesday and Thursday, but say it likely will cause coastal flooding and erosion, along with dangerous rip currents. National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Erin fluctuated in intensity on Monday, Aug. 18, as forecasters warn of "life-threatening" rip currents and surf conditions along the East Coast.

By Tuesday morning, Erin had lost some strength from previous days and dropped to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified last week, going from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph in a matter of hours.