Hurricane Erin was a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds on Monday night as it passed to the east of the Bahamas. The forecast track keeps the center of the storm well away from the U.S. East Coast this week, but tropical storm and storm surge watches have been issued for the North Carolina Outer Banks. National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Erin weakened to a category 3 hurricane during the early hours of Aug. 19 as it moves closer to the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Life-threatening rip curents are expected from Florida to Canada, along with large breaking waves and dangerous surf conditions.

The surest way to remedy an inability to prevail in the clutch is to do what the Storm did Tuesday night — build a big lead early so that their fourth quarter foibles become inconsequential.