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

Evacuation orders were issued in North Carolina Tuesday as Hurricane Erin continued to swirl upward across the Atlantic Ocean and two disturbances followed behind it.

Hurricane Erin pelted parts of the Caribbean and was forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the US East Coast this week.

A formidable Hurricane Erin has intensified into a Category 4 storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), as it battered parts of the Caribbean. The powerful system is now forecast to generate dangerous surf and rip currents along the US East Coast later this week.

Hurricane Erin underwent rapid intensification to become a Category 5 storm in just hours. It has since weakened to a Category 4 status.