Hurricane Erin is bringing dangerous surf and rip currents to Massachusetts, prompting beach closures on the Islands and along the South Coast.

The Cape and Islands could see heavy winds hit the region Thursday night and Friday as Hurricane Erin continues to pass north through the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Erin will be hundreds of miles from the Massachusetts coast, but it could still cause problems at beaches.

All south-facing beaches on Nantucket were closed to swimming Tuesday due to high surf from the approaching Hurricane Erin, the island’s harbormaster said.

The hurricane is still expected to bring whipping winds, 20-foot waves, flooding and dangerous rip currents to parts of the Bay State.

Approaching Hurricane Erin is impacting some ferry service in Massachusetts and the captain aboard a ferry to Nantucket with WCVB's Emily Mahar aboard warned of a "rocky ride" and "choppy seas."

Hurricane Erin is tracking closer to the East Coast, and meteorologists still maintain that parts of Massachusetts will feel the effects of the storm. The National Weather Service branch in Norton, MA is predicting that the storm will pass "well southeast of Nantucket on Friday," with the coastline of southeastern New England feeling the impact.

Hurricane Erin has made its anticipated northeast turn over the Atlantic and is expected to spend the next several days accelerating away from the United States. However, strong winds circulating around the large storm will continue to generate large waves and hazardous surf conditions into the weekend,