Mighty Hurricane Erin will cruise waters just east of the United States this week. Even if the center of the hurricane remains offshore, far-reaching and dangerous impacts will be felt at the beaches.

Hurricane Erin has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane as it threatens to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to the eastern coast of the United States. The rains caused by the storm are already beginning to hit the south-eastern Bahamas, and the Turk and Caicos Islands, where a tropical storm warning is in effect.

Hurricane Erin is forecast to remain well offshore but still bring hazardous currents and possible erosion like previous offshore hurricanes before it.

Hurricane Erin has re-intensified into a category 4 major hurricane Sunday evening. Life threating surf and rip currents are likely across the East coast of the United States this week, as Hurricane Erin continues grow.

An updated forecast map from AccuWeather shows Erin is expected to reach Category 4 strength by Monday afternoon. A Category 4 hurricane has maximum sustained windspeeds between 1

While Hurricane Erin will pass to the east of the U.S., we could still see impacts. Tropical storm force winds extend 200 miles from the center of the storm, as Erin continues to grow in size.