A tropical storm warning has been issued for North Carolina as Hurricane Erin churns up the east coast of the U.S. as a Category 2 storm.

Hurricane Erin continues to move parallel to the East Coast and it is expected to bring a prolonged period of destructive surf and dangerous rip currents.

Dozens of people have been rescued from rip currents as Hurricane Erin churns up the Eastern seaboard. Authorities said about 60 people have been rescued from rip currents at Wrightsville Beach, N.C., according to the Wilmington Star-News and NBC affiliate WRAL-TV .

Even though Erin will be well off shore, the shear large size of the storm will likely send tropical storm force winds (39 miles per hour or higher) into the Outer Banks and gusting tropical winds may also be felt on nearby mid-Atlantic beaches Wednesday into Friday.

On Wednesday morning, Hurricane Erin was several hundred miles off the coast of Florida and beginning to push storm surge and deadly rip currents toward the shore. Two other systems may form right

High surf and dangerous rip currents are likely. People are advised to stay out of the water this week, even when a lifeguard is on duty.

As the edges of Hurricane Erin get closer to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, much attention has been placed on Highway 12, a roughly 150-mile-long byway that connects that state’s islands and peninsulas. It is beloved by locals and tourists because of its scenic views of the ocean, sand dunes and old lighthouses.

A cold front moving across Maryland today will bring showers and a few rumbles of thunder before pushing through tonight, setting the stage for cooler, breezier conditions as Hurricane Erin tracks well offshore.

As Hurricane Erin heads north up the East Coast this Wednesday, residents are paying close attention to see where the storm will land and which cities may be in danger. As we write this on Wednesday afternoon,