Mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island have been issued due to possible impacts from Hurricane Erin and will start to go into effect Monday.

A tropical storm watch was issued by the NWS Newport/Morehead City NC on Monday at 4:50 p.m. in effect until Tuesday at 2 a.m. for Ocracoke Island.

Several days of heavy surf and high winds and waves could wash out parts of NC 12, which connects the popular vacation spot to the mainland, the National Weather Service said.

CEDAR ISLAND, N.C. (WITN) - A ferry packed full of cars from Ocracoke Island made its way to the Cedar Island Ferry terminal early Monday morning as Hyde County enforces a mandatory evacuation for visitors and residents.

The center of Hurricane Erin is expected to remain offshore, but forecasters expect eastern North Carolina to see coastal flooding, tropical-storm-force winds, overwash and beach erosion.

Dare County officials declared a state of emergency Sunday evening as they say Hurricane Erin is forecast to bring life-threatening impacts to the Outer Banks.

Officials say dangerous waves, 20 feet or more, will likely destroy protective dune structures along the highway.

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations in parts of Dare and Hyde County as Triad residents' travel plans are disrupted.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is helping visitors and residents on Ocracoke Island evacuate as Hurricane Erin approaches. Hyde County issued the order for evacuation on Sunday, ordering visitors to leave the island by 8pm that night.