Tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding are expected to appear in areas along the Outer Banks starting late Wednesday.

Hurricane Erin on Tuesday remained a major hurricane as headed north in the Atlantic prompting coastal advisories for Florida while the National Hurricane Center kept track of two tropical waves

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.

Forecasters say Erin may fluctuate in intensity but is likely to remain a major hurricane through the middle of the week. Residents in the northwestern Bahamas, Bermuda, and along the southeastern U.S. coast are being urged to monitor the storm closely.

Hurricane Erin on Monday bulked back up, but then dropped back down, although still a major Category 3 storm as it moved near the Bahamas with an increasing wind field that prompted new tropical

On Monday at 5:10 p.m. the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued a tropical cyclone statement in effect until Tuesday at 1:15 a.m. The statement is for East Carteret, Northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island.