As Hurricane Erin pelted North Carolina’s barrier islands with strong winds and waves, it destroyed many nests of threatened sea turtle

Hurricane Erin is tracking north as a Category 2 storm, nearly parallel to the East Coast. It is expected to strengthen back into a Category 3 hurricane later tonight. Follow here for live updates.

North Carolina expects coastal flooding from massive waves, tropical-storm-force winds and tidal and storm surges for much of the state shoreline, especially the Outer Banks, as well as life-threatening rip currents for most of the week, Stein said, adding, "No one should be in the ocean."

According to a 5 a.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center on Aug. 20, Erin is located about 455 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph with higher gusts.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is in Dare County Friday to size up the damage Erin left behind. When speaking to media, he noted that while the storm left an impact, it could have been much worse.

Videos show massive waves lashing abandoned homes on North Carolina's Outer Banks as the storm passes the U.S.

Hurricane Erin is moving away from the U.S. coast. Surf and seas remain a problem for our North Carolina beaches as summer vacations continue.

Strong waves from Hurricane Erin knocked a North Carolina man off his feet on Wednesday as he filmed the impacts of the storm brewing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Erin is expected to impact the Outer Banks in North Carolina, sending massive waves crashing into the islands.