Hurricane Erin is expected to impact the Outer Banks in North Carolina, sending massive waves crashing into the islands.

All eyes will be on major Hurricane Erin this week as the storm begins its northerly track toward the eastern seaboard.

Residents in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos braced for the dangerous Category 4 storm after it strengthened over the weekend while sweeping past Caribbean islands.

Island communities off the coast of North Carolina are bracing for flooding ahead of Hurricane Erin, the year’s first Atlantic hurricane.

In recent decades, the Atlantic has been warming at record rates, helping hurricanes explode into powerhouses.

While the category 4 storm is not expected to make landfall on the U.S. east coast, it will have an impact nonetheless. Dangerous high surf and rip currents are expected from Florida to New England throughout the week.

Five states are at risk of heavy flooding as Hurricane Erin rapidly approaches the East Coast. Newsweek's live blog is closed.