Hurricane Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic waters hundreds of miles off the U.S., prompting officials to close beaches along the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

Local beachgoers are being warned of dangerous rip currents and high surf along the Massachusetts coast due to the powerful Hurricane Erin far out at sea. The National Weather Service’s Boston office has issued a forecast warning of rip currents that can pull swimmers away from the shore and into deep water.

Flesh-eating bacteria is spreading to more beaches. The Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is usually found in beaches along the Gulf Coast. But the eastern seaboard is now seeing an uptick in cases. Experts believe climate change is helping the germs spread north.