The national weather forecasters are warning of potentially "life-threatening surf and rip currents" as Hurricane Erin makes its way along the U.S.'s eastern coastline in the coming days.

Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of the year, made its way toward the Caribbean over the weekend and is expected move north through midweek, according to the latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisory. It is not expected to make landfall on the U.S. mainland, but NHC particularly cautioned people in North Carolina's Outer Banks region to monitor Erin's progress because of the risk of strong winds and flooding.

"Despite the path of Erin forecast to remain offshore, the threat for life threatening rip
currents, damaging beach erosion, major coastal flooding and overwash and extremely dangerous surf continues to increase," the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City, N.C., wrote in its storm briefing Monday morning. "Coastal flooding may begin as early as Tuesday, more than 24 hours before any tropical storm force winds arrive."

Erin rapidly reached Category 5 status as it swept toward the Caribbean over the weekend, but its intensity had fallen back some as it moved north. According to the NHC in Miami, the storm returned to Category 4 status early Monday as it reached the southern portion of the Bahamas.

"Some additional strengthening is expected today," the Miami storm tracker wrote in its Monday morning advisory. "Erin will remain a dangerous major hurricane through the middle of this week."