Hurricane Erin is creating potentially deadly beach conditions all along the U.S. East Coast days before the largest waves are expected, with high winds and flooding anticipated in North Carolina by Wednesday night.

Erin lost some strength Tuesday and dropped to a Category 2 hurricane as it moves northward roughly parallel to the East Coast. However, its maximum sustained winds increased Wednesday to near 110 mph (177 kph). Erin could get stronger and become a major hurricane again before finally weakening by Friday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

The hurricane was about 365 miles (587 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and about 545 miles (877 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda on Wednesday. Forecasters said Erin was moving north at 13 mph (21

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