Rip currents are one of the coast's greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year. Hurricane Erin is bringing the potentially deadly currents to the East Coast this week. About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.

Hurricane Erin is maintaining its strength as a major hurricane, churning in the Atlantic Ocean and delivering tropical storm force winds to Turks and Caicos and parts of the Bahamas. Erin’s influence will be increasingly felt along the tri-state area’s coastline during the latter half of the week.

Rip currents off the coast of New Hampshire last week resulted in dozens of rescues on Hampton Beach. Lifeguards at the popular summer destination made 144 rescues over six days, the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol said. There were 51 rescues on Aug. 12 alone.

The girl’s sister, Sameeha Sultana, 13, was found unresponsive about an hour later at 7th Avenue, a block north. Rescue crews and the U.S. Coast Guard pulled her out of the water, and CPR was performed. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

On Monday at 3:11 p.m. an updated rip current statement was released by the Nation Service in effect until Wednesday at 8 p.m. for Cape May County.

Heavy rain and lightning cannot be ruled out in a stronger storm this afternoon, even with storm chances at 20%. RIP CURRENT RISK With Hurricane Erin passing to our east this week, expect a dangerous rip current threat to develop and continue through the ...

Hurricane Erin is churning up life-threatening rip currents and dangerous waves along much of the East Coast, sending destructive waves to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. CNN’s Dianne Gallagher reports.