Hurricane Erin's threats prompted North Carolina's governor to declare a state of emergency as the massive storm began bringing huge swells that were impacting the N.C. Outer Banks on Tuesday.

The big picture: The storm is not forecast to make landfall in the United States, but forecasters warned of "life-threatening" storm surges, coastal overwash and flooding along the U.S. East Coast. • Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in North Carolina's Dare and Hyde counties, including for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, • Swimming bans and beach closures were in effect in N.C. and other states, including New York City's Long Island ocean beaches, and parts of New Jersey and Delaware due to flooding, rough surf conditions and potential rip tides from the hurricane.

Threat level: A storm

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