Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Erin is forecast to grow in size, and that will generate dangerous high surf and rip currents along the entire Eastern Seaboard. It is also expected to push tropical storm winds and surge flooding into parts of North Carolina and the Virginia Tidewater.

Hurricane Erin is expected to brush the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday, forcing officials to issue warnings and evacuation notices.