The stream of overwash and flooded side roads near the oceanfront was on display in Buxton on Tuesday, with an evening high tide giving the area its first look at Hurricane Erin's possible impacts.

Mandatory evacuations are underway for parts of the Outer Banks, including Dare and Hyde counties and various islands, as Hurricane Erin draws closer.

In anticipation of the impacts of Hurricane Erin to be felt all along the East Coast, but particularly the Outer Banks and even some parts of Hampton Roads, evacuation orders have been issued for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in Dare County.

Although the storm is expected to stay offshore, it will produce dangerous surf conditions for much of the Atlantic Coast this week, forecasters say.

Two more tropical systems trail Hurricane Erin, which is following a projected course that brushes past the East Coast without making landfall.

Hurricane Erin strengthened 85 mph in 24 hours to a 160 mph Category 5 hurricane putting in fourth place for rapidly intensifying storms.