Meteorologists are closely tracking the projected path and forecast of Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year.

Hurricane Erin has begun to move away from the North Carolina coast, the National Hurricane Center said in an Aug. 21 advisory.

As Hurricane Erin moves east of the U.S., bringing impacts along the Atlantic coast, the National Hurricane Center continues to watch three areas in the tropics for possible development.

Hurricane Erin is causing coastal damage along Florida’s shoreline, and experts warn it may have a severe impact on local sea turtle populations. Scattered along area beaches, marked sea turtle nests face the risk of being washed out by high tides and strong waves,

Nantucket was closest to Erin’s anticipated path in New England and was likely to see the strongest winds, gusting about 25 to 35 mph (40 to 55 kph) at peak with waves potentially reaching a height of 10-13 feet (3-4 meters).

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the North Carolina coast. The storm will move northeast as it heads out to sea and away from land.

A s Hurricane Erin grazed U.S. East Coast, we've already seen the large waves and coastal flooding in North Carolina's Outer Banks, but this large storm's trek northeast has also pushed ocean swells high onto beaches along New York's Fire Island and the Jersey Shore.

Major Hurricane Erin may have topped out in terms of intensity, but the storm is still expected to grow in terms of size, which will bring rip currents and high surf conditions to much of the U.S. East Coast this week.