Tropical storm watch issued for North Carolina coast
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Local officials say they only order evacuations ahead of hurricanes when it’s necessary to protect the public.
After battering the Caribbean, Hurricane Erin is gaining strength as it barrels up the Atlantic. In the Outer Banks, life-threatening coastal conditions are expected by midweek.
Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean
The monster storm intensified to a Category 4 with 140 mph (225 kph) maximum sustained winds early Monday while it started to lash the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.