Erin rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday before weakening slightly to a Category 4 status, but it remained a "formidable" storm while it underwent a proce...

Rip currents are one of the coast's greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year.

Evacuations were being ordered on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island along North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the storm is unlikely to make direct landfall.

Hurricane Erin strengthened 85 mph in 24 hours to a 160 mph Category 5 hurricane putting in fourth place for rapidly intensifying storms.

Hurricane Erin neared North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds.

Erin’s outer bands pelted parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rains and tropical-storm winds during the day Sunday.

Hurricane Erin began pelting part of the Caribbean with rain and wind Monday before it’s expected to churn up dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week.

Hurricane Erin is gaining strength in the Atlantic, with new forecasts showing the massive storm tracking closer to the U.S. coast in the coming days.

The hurricane remains a potent threat and is being closely monitored.