Hurricane Erin Moves Toward Cape Coast

Conditions are expected to worsen soon near North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin moves through the Atlantic Ocean.

A state of emergency has been declared as the storm's outer bands are expected to bring poor weather conditions to the region.

Swimming at most East coast beaches is being advised against due to life threatening surf and rip currents.

Meantime, Cape communities, including Sandwich are urging residents to take precautions, even though Erin will be well off the New England coast.

While the center of Erin is expected to be at least 200 miles offshore, the massive size of the storm has captured the attention of meteorologists and local officials.

High surf advisories are up until Saturday morning, and wind advisories will go into effect at 5 pm this afternoon.

Breaking waves of four to eight feet are expected along the Barnstable and Southern Plymouth County coasts.

Sandwich officials say residents should have an emergency kit to last three to five days, have additional medication on hand, and be familiar with evacuation plans and routes.

Erin has maximum sustained winds of 110 miles-per-hour and is around 335 miles southeast of North Carolina.

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)