Beachfront property owners braced for the worst amid predictions of a storm surge of up to 4 feet and significant coastal erosion. Powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected to slam beaches, especially in North Carolina, for 48 hours or more as the hurricane crawls northward offshore through at least Thursday.

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

Although the storm is expected to stay offshore, it will produce dangerous surf conditions for much of the Atlantic Coast this week, forecasters say.

Officials in Dare and Hyde counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands ahead of Hurricane Erin, which strengthened overnight into a Category 4 storm. While Erin

Enjoy the shore, enjoy this beautiful weather but stay out of the water,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.