Beaches along the New Jersey coast and in Delaware were closed Tuesday as the powerful storm churned in the Atlantic. New York City announced its beaches would close on Wednesday and Thursday.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City is closing all its public beaches to swimmers in the coming days as Hurricane Erin is expected to bring massive waves and life-threatening rip currents to the five boroughs.

Beachgoers are being warned to stay off the sand and out of the water as Hurricane Erin churns toward New York, where it is expected to cause dangerous rip currents.