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.

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.

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.

Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Watches have been issued for portions of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as extremely dangerous Hurricane Erin continues to barrel across the Atlantic as a major Category 4 hurricane.

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.

While Erin is expected to take a northward turn in the Atlantic, a new system off the coast of Africa has the National Hurricane Center's attention.