Much of the North Carolina coast, including the Outer Banks, is under tropical storm and storm surge warnings as Hurricane Erin churns as a Category 2 storm. The tropical storm warning extends from downeast Carteret County,

Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Watches have been issued for portions of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as extremely dangerous Hurricane Erin continues to barrel across the Atlantic as a major Category 4 hurricane.

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Most of the tourists have left Ocracoke Island, and the surfers are watching closely as deadly rip currents lurk below the waves.

Hurricane Erin was a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds on Monday night as it passed to the east of the Bahamas. The forecast track keeps the center of the storm well away from the U.S. East Coast this week, but tropical storm and storm surge watches have been issued for the North Carolina Outer Banks. National Hurricane Center

A storm surge watch in North Carolina issued for OBX islands and areas near Morehead City means life-threatening flooding is possible in the next 48 hours, the NWS said.

A weather alert was issued by the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC on Monday at 2:51 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 3:30 p.m. The alert is for Mainland Hyde as well as Tyrrell and Beaufort counties.