On Wednesday, Hurricane Erin was several hundred miles off the coast of Florida and beginning to push storm surge and deadly rip currents toward the shore. Two other systems may form right behind.

Local beachgoers are being warned of dangerous rip currents and high surf along the Massachusetts coast due to the powerful Hurricane Erin far out at sea. The National Weather Service’s Boston office has issued a forecast warning of rip currents that can pull swimmers away from the shore and into deep water.

Rip currents and rough surf cause dozens of deaths each year on the US coasts, so it’s important to check the National Weather Service’s surf-zone forecast before heading to the beach or the boat.