As Hurricane Erin passes through the northern Atlantic Ocean, it could impact coastal communities around the Cape and Islands and bring heavy wind gusts on Thursday.

Erin may strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night, forecasters say. The worst impacts at the Jersey Shore will occur on Thursday.

Two homes on the North Carolina Outer Banks sit precariously in the high waves with their days seemingly numbered. Since 2020, 11 neighboring homes have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean. While the swells from storms like Hurricane Erin make things worse,

Local officials issued evacuation orders for parts of the Outer Banks, warning that the storm might wash out roads.

While Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall, Connecticut residents are keeping a careful eye on the storm.

According to the Action News Jax First Alert Weather Team, waves are expected to get even larger by later this evening. Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue tells me they do not recommend people go into the water,

People in the Outer Banks should shelter in place, authorities said. Meanwhile, life-threatening rip currents are likely at beaches along the East Coast, according to forecasters.

Rough surf conditions and dangerous rip currents have forced many beaches to ban swimming and boogie boarding this week.

Meteorologists are closely tracking the projected path and forecast of Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year.

A stronger and bigger Hurricane Erin pelted parts of the Caribbean and was forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week.