A tropical storm warning has been issued for North Carolina as Hurricane Erin churns up the east coast of the U.S. as a Category 2 storm.

Hurricane Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic waters hundreds of miles off the U.S., prompting officials to close beaches along the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic Ocean for potential tropical development behind Hurricane Erin, with the closest area to watch expected to to track near Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Hurricane Erin lashes Bahamas and Turks and Caicos with winds, rain, and flooding as forecasters track a new Atlantic tropical threat.

Erin developed in the eastern Atlantic, moving westward from the Cabo Verde Islands at about 20 mph (32 km/h). Infrared sensors on NOAA's GOES-19 satellite reveal colder cloud tops and deep convection near the center — signs of a strengthening system feeding on warm ocean waters.

Tropical Storm Erin formed Monday in the eastern Atlantic near the Cabo Verde Islands and could become a major hurricane north of Puerto Rico by the weekend.

The first area has been under the eyes of the National Hurricane Center for a few days as it emerged off Africa’s west coast.

With thousands of miles of ocean water above the 80-degree Fahrenheit temperature needed to fuel hurricanes, Cape Verde storms are some of the most dangerous that threaten North America. About 85% of all major hurricanes — Category 3 and higher — start out there, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Dexter is forecast to strengthen in the north Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters are tracking two tropical disturbances behind Hurricane Erin, but neither shows signs of becoming an immediate threat to land. One system east of the Lesser Antilles has only a medium chance of development,