Hurricane Erin has intensified to a Category 2 storm and is moving toward North Carolina's Outer Banks. Residents and visitors in the area are facing evacuation orders as conditions are expected to worsen throughout the day. A tropical storm warning is in effect, with heavy rain and strong winds anticipated on Wednesday night.

The storm's wind field is expected to expand significantly this week, leading to dangerous rip currents and large waves along the East Coast. Many beaches have prohibited swimming as a precaution.

As of 4:25 PM EDT, Erin's outer bands are already affecting the Outer Banks. Coastal flooding issues are likely to ease slightly as the region transitions from high tide to low tide around midnight. However, large and hazardous waves are expected to persist. The next high tide will occur Thursday morning between 5:45 AM and 6:45 AM, which could exacerbate coastal impacts.

A section of North Carolina Highway 12 has been closed due to the storm's effects. The highway is shut down from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Village, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Officials warned, "Unfortunately, Hurricane Erin's storm surge was too much for NC12 tonight. Conditions are too unsafe for people to be driving in. If you come across any flood waters, turn around, don't drown."

Although Hurricane Erin may not make landfall, it could still pose significant risks to East Coast residents. The storm is expected to generate rough surf, large waves, and life-threatening rip currents, even while remaining several hundred miles offshore. Climate scientists note that average sea levels along the East Coast have risen by about half a foot in recent decades, which has intensified coastal erosion.

Kimberly McKenna, interim executive director of the Coastal Research Center at Stockton University in New Jersey, stated that some of the largest waves from Erin could occur during the evening high tide. She emphasized that states will need to "wait and see" how damaging Erin will be to the coasts.

As conditions continue to deteriorate, impacts across the Outer Banks are expected to increase in the coming hours. The next high tide will occur through 7:30 PM, with waves and surf continuing to build along the coast.