A tropical storm warning has been issued for North Carolina as Hurricane Erin churns up the east coast of the U.S. as a Category 2 storm.

Dozens of people have been rescued from rip currents as Hurricane Erin churns up the Eastern seaboard. Authorities said about 60 people have been rescued from rip currents at Wrightsville Beach, N.C., according to the Wilmington Star-News and NBC affiliate WRAL-TV .

As the edges of Hurricane Erin get closer to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, much attention has been placed on Highway 12, a roughly 150-mile-long byway that connects that state’s islands and peninsulas. It is beloved by locals and tourists because of its scenic views of the ocean, sand dunes and old lighthouses.

Hurricane Erin is expected to bring dangerous surf at the Jersey Shore even as it stays off of the coast. Lifeguards are issuing renewed advice about what to do if you get caught in a rip current.

A cold front moving across Maryland today will bring showers and a few rumbles of thunder before pushing through tonight, setting the stage for cooler, breezier conditions as Hurricane Erin tracks well offshore.

Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane but is gaining in size and raising the risk of life-threatening surf later this week along the U.S.

Even more significant is Erin’s massive size. Forecasters say hurricane-force winds are now stretching out as far as 105 miles from Erin’s center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward to 265 miles.

The City of Virginia Beach provided an update on preparedness efforts and potential impacts ahead of Hurricane Erin.