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(NewsNation) — Hurricane Erin has weakened to a Category 2 storm but is expected to “substantially grow in size” in the coming days.
Mandatory evacuations remained in effect Tuesday for North Carolina‘s Ocracoke and Hatteras Island region, which has been under a State of Emergency since late Sunday.
The storm is expected to grow rapidly as it continues along its path, and forecasters have warned of “life-threatening surf and rip currents.”
National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said on Monday that breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected in the Outer Banks on Wednesday and Thursday, which could result in flooded homes and overwashed dunes.
People were urged to avoid the beaches even if the weather appears safe, as hurricane conditions further offshore can still create dangerous surf and rip currents.
North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach has recommended against swimming through Friday due to possible dangers from swells and riptides.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, where government services were suspended, some ports were closed and residents were ordered to stay home.
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Erin on Aug. 16, 2025. (NOAA via AP) 
Lisa Bucci, hurricane specialist, works near screens showing Tropical Storm Erin as they continue to track its progress on Aug. 13, 2025, at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
A red flag warns of dangerous waves on an empty beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Erin passed by near the island on Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
The eye of the hurricane is expected to remain hundreds of miles from the coast, but its staggering winds are forecasted to generate dangerous conditions for parts of the United States — including rip currents and high surf.
Around 16% of hurricane-related fatalities come from rip currents and rough seas, according to The Weather Channel.