Long lines stretch at North Carolina ferry terminals as Hurricane Erin prompts evacuation orders

Hurricane Erin maintains strength moving into warmer waters

FOX Weather Meteorologists Bob Van Dillen and Haley Meier supply the latest update connected Monday, Aug. 18 for Hurricane Erin. The class 4 hurricane is maintaining 140 mph winds and is forecast to determination on the U.S. East Coast with life-threatening coastal conditions. 

OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. – Hurricane Erin continues to churn arsenic the Category 4 tempest moves crossed the Atlantic Ocean, prompting immoderate areas on North Carolina's Outer Banks to statesman evacuations.

Images shared by the North Carolina Ferry System connected Monday day showed the ample enactment of land residents flocking to the evacuation site. The ferry strategy is assisting successful the efforts to assistance radical safely get disconnected the susceptible island.

Although determination is nary nonstop interaction expected connected onshore successful the U.S., the tempest could bring life-threatening surf and flooding on the East Coast.

Officials expect important water overwash from the tempest arsenic portions of Highway 12 connected Hatteras Island are expected to beryllium impassable for the adjacent respective days.

In airy of the caller tempest threat, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein issued a state of emergency for Ocracoke Island.

Mandatory evacuations began connected Sunday evening, starting with each visitors to the island, followed by each residents connected Monday morning, according to the North Carolina Ferry System.

HURRICANE ERIN STRENGTHENS, REMAINS 'DANGEROUS MAJOR HURRICANE' AS EVACUATIONS GET UNDERWAY IN NORTH CAROLINA

"Now is the clip to unafraid property, finalize plans and evacuate with belongings," officials said from Dare County amid evacuation orders.