Hurricane Erin updates: Storm weakens to Category 1, moves away from US coastline

Photos show Hurricane Erin’s initial impact on Buxton, North Carolina, which is part of the Outer Banks.

The images show strong waves, coastal flooding and damage to some structures in the area.

Overnight, a storm surge between 2 to 3 feet was reported along the Outer Banks.

Even though the storm is moving away from the U.S. East Coast, tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the Outer Banks, where wind gusts greater than 40 mph are likely. Additionally, waves up to 20 feet are possible in the area on Thursday.

Life-threatening rip currents will be possible along the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, even as Erin continues to shift away from the U.S. East Coast.

A high rip current risk is present on Thursday from Miami up to Cape Cod, with the high risk of rip currents likely lasting along part of the East Coast into the weekend.

High surf advisories remain in effect from Florida to Maine. Waves up to 10 to 20 feet are possible along the Outer Banks with up to 11-foot waves for the Southeast Coast, and up to 20-foot waves in parts of the Northeast.

-ABC News' Kyle Reiman

Coastal flood alerts remain in effect from North Carolina up to Long Island and coastal Connecticut for 1 to 3 feet of inundation in low-lying areas.

High tides and large waves driven by Erin's large wind field will produce coastal flooding for these low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.

Parts of coastal Delaware and the Jersey Shore could see moderate to major coastal flooding with high tide later on Thursday.

The Northeast Coast, including the Jersey Shore, Long Island and southeast coastal New England, will see large waves between 8 to nearly 20 feet on Thursday into Friday.

-ABC News' Kyle Reiman

Erin remains a Category 2 hurricane early Thursday with winds of 105 mph and tropical storm warnings are still in effect for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The storm is larger on Thursday compared to yesterday, with the wind field continuing to expand and fuel widespread destructive surf conditions and dangerous rip currents along the coastline. But the storm will begin to shift east.

Erin is now 210 miles east of Hatteras, North Carolina, and is starting to move away from the U.S. East Coast.

Erin is expected to continue turning east and speed away from the East Coast on Thursday into Friday.

-ABC News’ Kyle Reiman