Hurricane Erin brought coastal flooding to parts of North Carolina and Virginia as it made its closest approach to the US mainland early Thursday.

High waves washed over Highway 12 that links the Outer Banks island chain, making parts impassable, images posted by local authorities showed — proving the giant storm’s ability to kick up dangerous seas hundreds of miles from its center.

Though the Mid-Atlantic bore the brunt of the impacts, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) urged beach goers throughout the entire East Coast to refrain from swimming to avoid being caught in potentially life-threatening conditions.

In a morning update, the NHC said Category 2 Erin was packing winds of 105 miles (169 kilometers) per hour and creeping slowly north-northeast. It is expected to weaken as it mov

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