Hurricane Erin is tracking northwest between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, bringing dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents to Florida and the Carolinas through midweek.

Hurricane Erin on Wednesday grew in size as it made its way up into the Atlantic off the U.S. East Coast with tropical-storm conditions forecast to hit North Carolina and dangerous surf left

A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.

Meteorologists are closely tracking the projected path and forecast of Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year.

A massive Hurricane Erin churns off the East Coast, bringing dangerous waves to vulnerable areas along the North Carolina coast. Here's the latest.

Hurricane Erin was a Category 4 storm Monday morning and is expected to retain major hurricane status through the middle of the week.

Conditions along the Florida coast are expected to deteriorate Wednesday as Hurricane Erin moves north-northwest off Florida.

"Outer bands of large Hurricane Erin nearing the North Carolina Outer Banks,'' the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update, pointing out swimming at most East Coast beaches is strongly discouraged "due to life-threatening surf and rip currents." Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Hurricane Erin continues its path through the Atlantic, prompting rip current warnings and surf advisories across much of the U.S. East