U.S. shores are unlikely to see a direct hit, but a strong offshore hurricane can produce massive and dangerous waves well away from its center.

The storm will remain a major hurricane through the middle of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 3 storm, is expected to intensify and grow in size, prompting Dare and Hyde counties to declare states of emergency and order mandatory evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

Hurricane Erin, the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly intensified Friday night, with the storm now reaching Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 160 mph.

Hurricane hunters with the NOAA flew through the eye of Hurricane Erin after it rapidly intensified into a rare Category 5 hurricane. Erin is expected to continue to fluctuate in intensity as it undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle.

Tropical Storm Erin continues its westward path across the Atlantic, expected to become a hurricane Aug. 15, and a major hurricane by Sunday morning.