Hurricane Erin threatens the East Coast with severe surf and winds, and evacuations have been ordered for parts of North Carolina. Here are the latest updates.

Storms that ramp up so quickly complicate forecasting and make it harder for government agencies to plan for emergencies. Hurricane Erick, a Pacific storm that made landfall June 19 in Oaxaca, Mexico, also strengthened rapidly, doubling in intensity in less than a day.

Hurricane Erin is expected to brush the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday, forcing officials to issue warnings and evacuation notices.

At 5 p.m., Erin was packing maximum sustained wind of 105 mph. The Category 2 hurricane remains on a path to steer

Hurricane Erin was taking aim at the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday evening, according to forecasters who are warning Americans of life-threatening rip currents along beaches that could persist for days.

The beaches at Assateague Island and Ocean City, Maryland, are closed due to dangerous rip currents and high surf brought on by Hurricane Erin.

The storm will remain a major hurricane through the middle of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Erin continues its westward path across the Atlantic, expected to become a hurricane Aug. 15, and a major hurricane by Sunday morning.