Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Hurricane Erin began to move away from the North Carolina coast early Thursday, according to forecasters who are warning beachgoers against swimming at most U.S. East Coast beaches due to "life-threatening" surf and rip currents.

Impacts from Hurricane Erin, a category two hurricane, are expected to begin in North Carolina on Wednesday.

With the morning advisory, a tropical storm warning was also issued for the Virginia coastline from the North Carolina border to Chincoteague as the impacts from Erin spread northward.