Three flags warn of surf and rip current conditions. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There's also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason.

A high surf advisory is in effect through Thursday for south-coastal areas as Hurricane Erin's powerful winds churn rough surf and rip currents.

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.

The girl’s sister, Sameeha Sultana, 13, was found unresponsive about an hour later at 7th Avenue, a block north. Rescue crews and the U.S. Coast Guard pulled her out of the water, and CPR was performed. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Hurricane Erin is maintaining its strength as a major hurricane, churning in the Atlantic Ocean and delivering tropical storm force winds to Turks and Caicos and parts of the Bahamas. Erin’s influence will be increasingly felt along the tri-state area’s coastline during the latter half of the week.

On Monday at 3:11 p.m. an updated rip current statement was released by the Nation Service in effect until Wednesday at 8 p.m. for Cape May County.

Heavy rain and lightning cannot be ruled out in a stronger storm this afternoon, even with storm chances at 20%. RIP CURRENT RISK With Hurricane Erin passing to our east this week, expect a dangerous rip current threat to develop and continue through the ...