Hurricane Erin's higher tides and big waves are battering much of the East Coast,with the huge storm prompting the expansion of tropical stormand coastal flooding advisories on Wednesday. Beachfront property owners are bracing for the worst amid predictions of a storm surge of up to 4 feet and significant coastal erosion. Powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected to slam beaches, especially in North Carolina, for 48 hours or more as the hurricane crawls northward offshore through at least Thursday. "Outer bands of large Hurricane Erin brushing the North Carolina Outer Banks," the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. ET update, pointing out that swimming at most East Coast beaches is strongly discouraged "due to life-threatening surf and rip currents." The National Hurricane Center reported Erin carries sustained winds of 110 mph, the upper end of a Category 2 storm. Winds are forecast to continue increasing to 120 mph, meaning it could become a Category 3 storm later in the day. The massive hurricane was picking up speed, traveling north at 14 mph, and its center was located about 245 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. A tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of North Carolina and Virginia as the impacts from Erin spread northward. Even though Erin is expected to stay hundreds of miles offshore, its impacts are forecast to worsen as it crawls north and makes its closest approach to the U.S. mainland, likely early Thursday. Erin was generating waves of 35 feet or more at an ocean buoy east-northeast of the Bahamas on Tuesday, creating swells and stirring up a broad swath of the ocean. Developments: ∎ The National Weather Service warned that Erin's tropical storm-force winds would arrive on the North Carolina coast, especially the Outer Banks, by Wednesday night. Officials said other impacts, like coastal flooding and storm surge, were already being felt. The high tide is also expected to rise much more than usual. ∎The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed down a portion of Highway 12, a crucial artery in the Outer Banks, due to flooding, like the imagesshared on social media. ∎ Flood warnings are in place for the Atlantic coast of northeast North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as along the Chesapeake Bay south of the York River, the weather service said. ∎ Even as it starts to weaken by Friday, Erin is predicted to retain hurricane strength going deeper into the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.
