Hurricane Erin pounded the North Carolina coast with strong waves and gusty winds as it began to move out to sea Thursday. It was still considered dangerous for beachgoers along the U.S. East Coast. Erin lost some strength Tuesday and dropped to a Category 2 hurricane as it moved northward, roughly parallel to the East Coast. However, its maximum sustained winds remained at 105 mph (169 kph) on Thursday. Erin could become a major hurricane again before finally weakening by Friday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The hurricane was about 210 miles (338 kilometers) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on Thursday and was moving north-northeast at 17 mph (28 kph). Although the weather center was confident Erin would not make direct landfall in the United States, authorities have warned that water conditions along the East Coast remain dangerous. Beachgoers were cautioned against swimming due to life-threatening surf and rip currents. Officials on a few islands along North Carolina’s Outer Banks issued evacuation orders and warned that some roads could be swamped by waves up to 20 feet (6 meters). By Wednesday evening, officials had closed Highway 12 on Hatteras Island as the surge increased and waves rose. Ocracoke Island’s connection to its ferry terminal was cut off.