Hurricane Erin far off the Massachusetts coast will still spark ‘life-threatening swimming and surfing conditions’

Meteorologists are closely tracking the projected path and forecast of Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year.

Here's a quick, easy-to-read look on the latest about Hurricane Erin, including what Florida residents should know.

Storms that ramp up so quickly complicate forecasting and make it harder for government agencies to plan for emergencies. Hurricane Erick, a Pacific storm that made landfall June 19 in Oaxaca, Mexico, also strengthened rapidly, doubling in intensity in less than a day.

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Rough surf conditions and dangerous rip currents have forced many beaches to ban swimming and boogie boarding this week.

Dangerous coastal impacts from Hurricane Erin will peak along the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday as the storm passes offshore.

As Hurricane Erin churns ominously in the Atlantic, surfers in Nova Scotia are gearing up to ride the powerful, storm-fed waves.