Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters in North Carolina are warning that Hurricane Erin’s winds and surf could cause major damage to beach and coastal areas in the Outer Banks, including flooding homes and businesses farther inland.

The growing size of the powerful hurricane's winds and waves will lead to significant flooding and erosion on North Carolina's Outer Banks throughout the week.