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.

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — From Florida to New England, people trying to enjoy the last hurrahs of summer along the coast were met with rip current warnings, closed beaches and in some cases already treacherous waves as Hurricane Erin inched closer Wednesday.

Hurricane Erin continues to spin in the Atlantic and is forecast to grow even larger, with weather conditions expected to deteriorate along N.C.

Erin, which became a Category 5 hurricane Saturday morning in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean, but has now weakened to a Category 2.

The National Hurricane Center is urging beachgoers to stay out of the water. Parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks are under mandatory evacuation orders.

Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane but is gaining in size and raising the risk of life-threatening surf later this week along the U.S.

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate along the coast of North Carolina on Aug. 20 due to Hurricane Erin, according to the NHC.

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.