H urricane Erin, now a Category 2 hurricane, has prompted a tropical storm watch for North Carolina's Outer Banks and is expected to bring dangerous waves and rip currents to beaches along the East Coast. While the storm won't make landfall on the East Coast, it has prompted mandatory evacuations for some Outer Banks residents and visitors.

Hurricane Erin weakened overnight but remains a major hurricane, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Residents along the North Carolina coast also were warned there is a risk of strong winds associated with the outer rainbands of Erin.