Hurricane Erin's higher tides and big waves are battering much of the East Coast, with the huge storm prompting the expansion of tropical storm and coastal flooding advisories Wednesday.

Hurricane Erin intensified rapidly over the past week and is now hitting the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.

Significant coastal impacts including dune erosion and damages to precarious beach homes are expected on Wednesday night into Thursday for eastern North Carolina, as Erin moves in offshore, especiall...