Powerful Hurricane Erin is expected to bring high seas, big rip currents, and rough surf as it moves between the United States and Bermuda.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol has closed the ocean to swimming, wading and surfing Tuesday as tropical storm activity off the coast brings dangerous conditions to the resort town.

Tropical storm watches expand from the Virginia beaches to Fenwick Island, Delaware, and include Ocean City, Maryland.

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Holly Andrzejewski hadn’t yet welcomed her and her family’s first guests to the Atlantic Inn on Hatteras Island when she had to start rescheduling them, as Hurricane Erin neared North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds.

Rough surf conditions and dangerous rip currents have forced many beaches to ban swimming and boogie boarding this week.

The hurricane’s behavior in recent days makes it one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record.

When packing for a potential evacuation, experts recommend with an insulated cooler for meds. Use a battery-operated cooler with ice packs when possible.