Hurricane Erin's path will not bring its strongest winds ashore. However, it continues to grow in size, and its impacts from high surf, rip currents and coastal flooding are already increasing along parts of the East Coast.

The Outer Banks are readying for strong impacts from Hurricane Erin offshore in the Atlantic. A Storm Surge Warning is in place for much of the North Carolina coastline. FOX Weather Meteorologist Stev

Hurricane Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic waters hundreds of miles off the U.S., prompting officials to close beaches along the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

According to the National Weather Service, Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue is reporting very strong rip currents, and up to 70 rip current rescues have taken place on Monday, Aug. 18. Red flags are flying at Wrightsville Beach today, alerting beachgoers not to swim because of dangerous rip currents after 50 rip current rescues.

Invest 99L and a tropical wave have a medium chance of becoming tropical depressions later this week. The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems in the Atlantic, according to the 8 a.m. Wednesday,