By Scott Vincent and Sarah Morland (Reuters) -Residents in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos braced on Monday for Hurricane Erin, a dangerous Category 4 storm and the first of the Atlantic season, after it strengthened over the weekend while sweeping past Caribbean islands.

Hurricane Erin won't make landfall in the U.S., but it will bring dangerous rip currents to the East Coast. Beachgoers from Florida to the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic to Long Island need to be on alert for rip currents from Erin this week.

Powerful Hurricane Erin is expected to bring high seas, big rip currents, and rough surf as it moves between the United States and Bermuda.