Meteorologists are closely tracking the projected path and forecast of Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year.

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.

A dozen states from Florida to Maine are bracing for rain, storm surge and dangerous rip currents as Hurricane Erin churns off the coast of the United States. The hurricane measures more than 500 miles wide and 800 miles in length.

Outer bands from Hurricane Erin are expected to bring worsening conditions to the coast of North Carolina by this evening, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The Category 2 storm is continuing to move north-northwest and the center was located about 444 miles east of Daytona Beach at 8 a.m.

North Carolina’s coast will get rocked by massive waves as the storm makes its closest approach today. Follow here for live updates.

Hurricane Erin continues to move parallel to the East Coast and it is expected to bring a prolonged period of destructive surf and dangerous rip currents.

The National Hurricane Center is also watching two tropical disturbances to the east of Erin that could develop into named cyclones. With thousands of miles of warm ocean water, hurricanes known as Cape Verde storms are some of the most dangerous that threaten North America.

Hurricane Erin is causing dangerous rip currents and high surf at beaches along the East Coast, and some areas could see coastal flooding over the coming days. The flood risk increases Thursday, when high waves coincide with high tide along the Jersey Shore and New York's south-facing beaches.