Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A storm surge watch in North Carolina issued for OBX islands and areas near Morehead City means life-threatening flooding is possible in the next 48 hours, the NWS said.

"Extreme beach and coastal damage is likely along the oceanside, resulting in a significant threat to life and property," weather forecasters said about a Hurricane Erin impact on the OBX and other North Carolina coastal areas.