Hurricane Erin's threats prompted mandatory evacuations in the North Carolina Outer Banks on Monday, as forecasters warned the major storm could impact the U.S. East Coast.

The big picture: The storm that flooded Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands over the weekend isn't expected to make landfall in the U.S., but the National Hurricane Center warns it's expected to bring "life-threatening surf and rip currents" to much of the East Coast, Atlantic Canada, the Bahamas and Bermuda during the next several days.

Threat level: Dare County, N.C., is under a state of emergency due to the storm and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for visitors to Hatteras Island. Residents were ordered to leave by 8am Tuesday local time. • "The island faces potential 15-20 foot breaking waves that co

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