Hurricane Erin live updates: Life-threatening waves pound North Carolina coast as storm moves north

North Carolina authorities have urged residents to stay off the roads on Thursday ahead of further high tides and hazardous conditions this evening.

“The good news is, is our NCDOT pros are out there doing their best to clear it and open it up… But while it’s closed, people need to stay off the road,” ,” State Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson told CNN News Central.

“We’re doing our best to take care of the people on Hatteras Island overnight. We didn’t have any calls for assistance, which is a good thing.

“People have sheltered in place and are taking care of themselves, but people need to stay off the roads and give our NCDOT pros the time to take care of the road, and hopefully we’ll get it open as quickly as possible.”

He added: “But we’re not out of it yet. We got another high tide coming this evening.”

Here’s a reminder of the various warnings in place up the U.S. East Coast, per the National Hurricane Center.

• A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina.

• A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

• A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bermuda.

• A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

• A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.

Forecasters have warned that even though Hurricane Erin is set to move out into the open Atlantic, “dangerous conditions” may still prove hazardous for beach-goers over the weekend.

“Storm surge may impact beaches from the Delmarva coastline to southern New Jersey through late Thursday night,” according to Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert.

“Several feet of water rise from Hurricane Erin may extend as far north as northern New Jersey and coastal areas near New York City.”

DaSilva added: “Even as Erin pushes out into the open Atlantic, dangerous conditions are expected at many beaches heading into the weekend.

“Do not let your guard down if you’re spending time at the beach on Friday or Saturday.

“It may seem like a nice beach day with sunshine and blue skies as the storm goes out to sea, but powerful rip currents will be lurking in the water through Saturday.”

Here’s the latest update from the National Hurricane Center on Erin’s progress.

Spectacular view of the Atlantic storm from above here courtesy of the ISS.

Americans can help with disaster recovery decisions by joining the space agency’s initiative to document damage at ground level, reports Oliver O’Connell.

Here’s a closer look at the storm’s likely path with Graig Graziosi.

Here’s the view from the shoreline as the Tar Heel State braced for its first major storm of the season.

The Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol has been forced to come to the rescue of nesting sea turtles in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, digging trenches to prevent them filling with seawater that is being driven towards shore by Hurricane Erin.

Dale Baquer, president of the patrol group, said at least three nests have nevertheless been washed away while eight of the 10 remaining are damaged significantly, according to WTOC.

“We always say in the turtle business, ‘Never say never,’ because we’ve seen nests sit underwater, and then we get surprised,” Baquer said.

“But sitting underwater is detrimental to their survival.”