Hurricane Erin latest: Dangerous rip currents along the Jersey Shore and Long Island

NEW YORK (WABC) — Hurricane Erin is forcing evacuations on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as it threatens to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds.

By early Tuesday, Erin had lost some strength from previous days but was still a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was about 665 miles (1,070 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and 720 miles (1,155 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras and was moving northwest at a slower 7 mph (11 kph).

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, where government services were suspended, some ports were closed and residents were ordered to stay home.

On North Carolina’s Outer Banks, coastal flooding was expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday.

Forecasters say the monster storm will turn away from the eastern U.S. and won’t make landfall. But they predict it will churn up dangerous rip currents along North Carolina’s barrier islands and could swamp roads with waves of up to 15 feet.

Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents Monday.

In New Jersey, are warning Erin could produce very rough surf, wind gusts up to 30 mph, minor coastal flooding, and dangerous rip currents over the coming days.

The state closed swimming and other activities at Island Beach State Park until at least Thursday because of the hurricane. Other shore communities, including Belmar and Bay Head beaches, put up red flags indicating swimming is not allowed.

“This one could have brutal surf and rip currents and potentially coastal flooding ramifications. I would just say to everybody, my main message is please be careful. Don’t swim at beaches without lifeguards. Don’t swim if they’ve got the red flags up,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said.

Murphy and other state officials are expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday morning.

Crystal Cranmore has the latest updates on the storm.