Wayne Parry

ATLANTIC CITY — Hurricane Erin turned away from the U.S. mainland Thursday, but left behind pounding surf and high winds that ate away at Jersey Shore beaches as flooding remained a concern and Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency.

The governor issued his emergency declaration due to high waves along the shore and the likelihood of high-tide flooding in the evening around 7 p.m. Thursday.

Although the powerful storm was 370 miles offshore, its effects were becoming significant.

The National Weather Service predicted waves of between 10 to 17 feet Thursday night, along with “significant” beach erosion. Wave heights were already reaching 14 feet as of 2 p.m. in some spots, and wind gusts onshore were 35 to 45 mph.

“As the storm moves past New Jersey over the next 2

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