By AARON PARSEGHIAN

Big waves and whipping winds are bringing dangerous beach conditions to the Massachusetts coast, prompting closures and warnings as Hurricane Erin churned hundreds of miles offshore.

Watching Hurricane Erin's waves

At Scituate's historic lighthouse, waves swelled higher, drawing onlookers while town officials urged people to admire the ocean from a safe distance. A hazardous surf warning remains in effect for all coastal areas in the town, with rip current risks expected to grow as the storm moves northeast.

"Seeing the waves as big as they are I think people would be like, whoa, you should stay away," said Ryan Frankel, a Scuitate native who was photographing the beach. "But I think, honestly, there's something about them that just brings character and

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