Hurricane Erin, which formed on August 11 and quickly intensified, is expected to largely impact the Outer Banks region of North Carolina and portions of coastal Virginia — though forecasters warn the storm’s impacts will also be felt in the northeast.

The storm is expected to bring dangerous conditions to parts of the coast on Wednesday but then turn away from the United States.

The National Hurricane Center warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands may become impassable, with waves as high as 20 feet crashing ashore. The heavy surf is likely to result in significant beach erosion, it said in its 8 a.m. EDT update.

The first Atlantic hurricane of the season is forecast to bring heavy rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents to the U.S. East Coast this week.

Hurricane Erin has grown bigger and stronger Wednesday afternoon, with its top sustained winds blowing at 110 mph, just short of returning to “major” hurricane status. Even more significant is Erin’s massive size.