Hurricane Erin maintained its Category 2 strength early Wednesday morning as North Carolina's coasts prepared for life-threatening coastal flooding, with mandatory evacuations underway for some islands, US authorities said.
The storm, which underwent historically rapid intensification and briefly peaked at Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, swamped homes and roads in the US island territory of Puerto Rico.
Although its core is projected to remain far offshore, meteorologists are concerned by Erin's large size, with tropical storm-force winds extending hundreds of miles from its core.
"Weather conditions expected to deteriorate along the coast of North Carolina by this evening," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned in its latest advisory.
Erin was located 455 miles (730 kilometers) southeast of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, and was moving north-northwest, according to the NHC.
Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday evening.
"Hurricane Erin will bring threats of coastal flooding, beach erosion, and dangerous surf conditions," Stein said.
"North Carolinians along the coast should get prepared now, ensure their emergency kit is ready, and listen to local emergency guidelines."
Storm surge warnings were issued for Cape Lookout in North Carlina's southeast further north to the town of Duck, with water levels potentially reaching two to four feet above ground.
A broader swath of coastline, from North Carolina to southern Virginia and Bermuda, was under a lower-grade Tropical Storm Watch.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, while Dare and Hyde counties declared local emergencies, according to the governor's office.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has entered its historical peak.
Despite a relatively quiet start with just four named storms so far, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to forecast an "above-normal" season.
Scientists say that climate change is supercharging tropical cyclones: warmer oceans fuel stronger winds, a warmer atmosphere intensifies rainfall, and higher sea levels magnify storm surge.
There is also some evidence, though less certain, that climate change is making hurricanes more frequent.
