Beaches along the New Jersey coast and in Delaware were closed as the powerful storm churned in the Atlantic. Officials warned of severe waves and possible flooding.

Some beaches in the Delaware Valley have prohibited swimming as a precaution as Hurricane Erin moves closer to the East Coast.

Hurricane Erin’s winds weakened during the past 24 hours, but it still remains a strong category 2 storm and poses a danger to swimmers and boaters along the Jersey Shore. Many Shore towns have imposed strict bans on swimming and boogie boarding,