While Erin won't hit the U.S. directly, the storm's biggest impact on the East Coast will be along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where coastal flood watches, tropical storm watches and storm surge watches are in effect. The storm surge could be as high as 4 feet.

Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as winds and heavy rains hit the Virgin Islands and Puerto

Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to pass over Puerto Rico late Tuesday night, which could bring flooding, landslides and power outages. The island has closed schools and opened shelters.

Tropical Storm Ernesto forms, may bring flooding to Puerto Rico It will probably avoid the mainland United States, but it could become a major hurricane as it approaches Bermuda.

Hurricane Erin has weakened but is still a powerful Category 3 storm with max sustained winds of 115 mph and moving northwest at 7 mph.

Forecasts nudge Erin's likely path to the west, increasing the risks at U.S. beaches. Experts say the storm's massive size, rather than windspeed, is what makes it a threat.