• Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 2 storm, is causing beach closures and warnings from Florida to New England.
• North Carolina's Outer Banks are facing significant impacts, including evacuations and storm surge warnings.
• The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening surf conditions and rip currents.

Hurricane Erin is currently a Category 2 storm with sustained winds near 100 mph, affecting the U.S. East Coast and prompting widespread beach closures and evacuation orders. As the storm moves northward, officials are warning of dangerous rip currents and high surf, which pose significant risks to beachgoers from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has received reports of severe weather conditions, advising the public to stay out of the water due to life-threatening surf and currents, according to indiatimes, huffpost, and bbc.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are significantly impacted, experiencing mandatory evacuations and destruction from storm surges that have forced the closure of Highway 12, the main evacuation route. Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency as conditions worsened with powerful waves expected to reach heights of up to 20 feet. Over 2,000 residents and tourists heeded evacuation orders from the vulnerable areas of Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, according to latimes, abcnews, and npr.

As the storm continues to churn offshore, its outer bands are producing heavy rain and strong winds, threatening further flooding and erosion along the East Coast. The National Weather Service has issued advisories for various coastal regions, warning residents of potential inundation and hazardous conditions. The coastal towns are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to higher sea levels exacerbated by climate change, as estimated by several climate scientists, according to newsweek and npr.

Officials have reiterated the importance of listening to evacuation orders and beach safety warnings as conditions are anticipated to worsen through Thursday. High surf and rip currents are expected to continue impacting beaches from Florida to Maine, emphasizing the storm's vast reach and potential severity. Precautions have led to widespread beach closures along the Northeastern shoreline, impacting summer activities for thousands, according to huffpost and bbc.