Erin was forecast to peak Thursday with the potential to regain major hurricane strength without making East Coast landfall before turning out to sea. Tropical storm conditions were expected across parts of the Outer Banks and the Virginia coast, and Bermuda faced rough seas and water restrictions. Outer Banks roads and homes experienced surge and wave impacts, including closure of Highway 12 on Hatteras Island and loss of ferry access at Ocracoke. Officials warned of large swells, life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England, and widespread beach closures with multiple rescues reported from dangerous conditions.
Forecasters predicted the storm would peak Thursday and said it could regain strength and once again become a major hurricane, or Category 3 or greater, but it was not forecast to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. Tropical storm conditions were anticipated over parts of the Outer Banks and the coast of Virginia, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported. In Bermuda, residents and tourists were told to stay out of the water with rough seas expected through Friday.
As Erin's outer bands brushed the Outer Banks, water poured onto the main route connecting the barrier islands and a handful of stilted homes precariously perched above the beach. By Wednesday evening officials had closed Highway 12 on Hatteras Island as the surge increased and waves grew higher. Ocracoke Island's connection to its ferry terminal was cut off. Authorities predicted that the largest swells during high tide would cut off villages and homes on the Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England.
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