Hurricane Erin picking up steam as it edges along the East Coast

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin began strengthening again Wednesday while creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City.

Forecasters expect the storm to peak going into Thursday and say it could re-intensify into a major hurricane .

While Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea, water began pouring onto North Carolina’s Outer Banks main route and around a handful stilted homes precariously perched above the beach.

Authorities expect the largest swells during high tide will cut off the Outer Banks' villages and vacation homes and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England.

New York City closed its beaches to swimming on