Hurricane Erin is intensifying as it moves up the East Coast, prompting warnings and preparations in several states. Currently classified as a Category 2 hurricane, Erin has sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. The National Weather Service forecasts that the storm will continue to strengthen as it approaches the tri-state area on Thursday.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where wind gusts exceeding 40 mph are anticipated. Heavy rainfall is also expected, with forecasts predicting between 1 to 2 inches of rain, and localized areas could see up to 4 inches. Tropical storm watches extend from Duck, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia, and include Bermuda.

The Outer Banks have already experienced significant impacts from Erin, including life-threatening surf conditions, flooding, and beach erosion. In response to the storm, officials closed a major highway connecting the Barrier Islands on Wednesday night due to rising water levels and increasing wave heights.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams announced the closure of city beaches on Wednesday and Thursday due to dangerous rip currents. Governor Kathy Hochul has also prohibited swimming at ocean-facing state beaches. Preparations are underway at Coney Island, where Luna Park has temporarily shut down. Parks Department staff are monitoring the area to ensure safety as wave heights could reach up to 13 feet.

In Long Branch, New Jersey, surf conditions are expected to be similarly hazardous, with waves reaching 6 to 8 feet. Governor Phil Murphy has warned of potential coastal flooding and beach erosion in the area.

Despite the storm's intensity, the National Weather Service indicates that Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall. The storm is gradually moving away from North Carolina, but its effects will continue to be felt along the coast.