On Monday at 5:10 p.m. the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued a tropical cyclone statement in effect until Tuesday at 1:15 a.m. The statement is for East Carteret, Northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island.

Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A tropical storm watch was issued by the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC on Monday at 4:50 p.m. in effect until Tuesday at 2 a.m. for Ocracoke Island.

The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued a tropical storm watch at 4:50 p.m. on Monday in effect until Tuesday at 2 a.m. for Hatteras Island.

A tropical wave producing showers and thunderstorms is headed west-northwest across the tropical Atlantic. The system, which is currently moving along the eastern Atlantic, is expected to approach the Leeward Islands by the end of the week and could develop into a tropical cyclone.

An Atlantic disturbance now has a 50 percent chance of cyclone formation, according to the National Hurricane Center.