Hurricane Erin is maintaining its strength as a major hurricane, churning in the Atlantic Ocean and delivering tropical storm force winds to Turks and Caicos and parts of the Bahamas. Erin’s influence will be increasingly felt along the tri-state area’s coastline during the latter half of the week.

Rip currents are one of the coast's greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year. Hurricane Erin is bringing the potentially deadly currents to the East Coast this week. About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.

High Surf Advisory is in effect through Thursday, with the risk of dangerous rip currents stretching across local beaches. Here's what to know.

The girl’s sister, Sameeha Sultana, 13, was found unresponsive about an hour later at 7th Avenue, a block north. Rescue crews and the U.S. Coast Guard pulled her out of the water, and CPR was performed. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Rip currents off the coast of New Hampshire last week resulted in dozens of rescues on Hampton Beach. Lifeguards at the popular summer destination made 144 rescues over six days, the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol said. There were 51 rescues on Aug. 12 alone.

Jacksonville's NWS issues high rip current risk warning for Northeast Florida beaches through Saturday evening.

Hurricane Erin is moving closer to the U.S. coast at the start of the workweek. Strong wind and big waves will cause problems for our North Carolina beaches as summer vacations continue.