WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hurricane Erin was nearing North Carolina’s coast Wednesday, threatening huge waves and flooding as the strengthening Category 2 storm triggered mandatory evacuation orders despite its offshore path.

The United States (US) state, still reeling from last year’s deadly Hurricane Helene, declared an emergency on Tuesday as Erin’s impacts were predicted to begin from Wednesday evening through Thursday.

“Based on the current forecast, we are anticipating coastal flooding from massive waves, tropical storm force winds and tidal and storm surge for much of the state shoreline, especially the Outer Banks, from this evening through Thursday,” Governor Josh Stein told reporters.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Erin was churning northward some 300 miles southeast of North Carolina, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph, according to the National Hurricane Centre — with the possibility it could still restrengthen to a major hurricane.

Its unusually large size means tropical storm-force winds extend hundreds of miles from its centre, earning it the moniker “Enormous Erin” by hurricane specialist Michael Lowry, who wrote on Substack the US was fortunate to be spared a direct hit.

Erin’s low pressure of around 940 millibars at its centre is “remarkably low” and a more telling indicator of its destructive potential than wind speed, Lowry added.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands. Parts of North Carolina to Virginia were under a tropical storm warning.

Stein urged residents to pack enough food, water and supplies to last up to five days — and to safeguard important documents like insurance policies.

“We have already pre-positioned three swift water rescue teams and 200 National Guard troops to various locations on the coast, along with boats, high clearance vehicles and aircraft,” he added.