Hurricane Erin on Monday bulked back up as a major Category 4 storm with an increasing wind field as it moved near the Bahamas. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center increased the odds a system

Hurricane Erin remained a "dangerous" Category 4 hurricane on Monday, as life-threatening surf and rip currents threaten the U.S. eastern seaboard this week.

Local officials say they only order evacuations ahead of hurricanes when it’s necessary to protect the public.

Hurricane Erin is a sprawling Category 4 storm churning in the Atlantic Monday after exploding in strength at a historic rate this weekend. The storm’s enormous footprint is becoming the biggest concern.

Surfers prayed to the wave gods ahead of the competition and Hurricane Erin listened, as she is primed to send big waves to our coastline.

The winds from Hurricane Erin could also bring dangerous surf and rip currents to the shorelines. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

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

While the category 4 storm is not expected to make landfall on the U.S. east coast, it will have an impact nonetheless. Dangerous high surf and rip currents are expected from Florida to New England throughout the week.