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.

Forecasters in North Carolina are warning that Hurricane Erin’s winds and surf could cause major damage to beach and coastal areas in the Outer Banks, including flooding homes and businesses farther inland.

Mandatory evacuations are underway on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, as Hurricane Erin approaches. Coastal flooding and massive waves could leave roads impassable for days.