Hurricane Erin is less than 500 miles from Hatteras, North Carolina. Rip currents and water rescues have continued as bigger waves and dangeorus swiming conditions are developing at the beaches.

Hurricane Erin is churning up life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf along much of the U.S. East Coast and will soon send destructive waves and storm surge to North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Conditions along the North Carolina coast are expected to deteriorate as Hurricane Erin begins to pass by on Wednesday, Aug. 20.