The Outer Banks in North Carolina are under evacuation warning as Hurricane Erin whips up potentially 20-foot high waves and flooding along the east coast.

Evacuations are already underway on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Hurricane Erin is expected to bring gusty winds, large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents and significant coastal flooding to this vulnerable barrier island chain.

Although Erin may never make landfall, there will be coastal impacts over a widespread area from the The Bahamas and the entire