Rip currents are the third leading cause of deaths from hurricanes, and they can happen on a sunny day hundreds of miles from the storm.

Hurricane Erin briefly strengthened into a Category 5 storm. It is not expected to make a direct hit on the U.S. but will create dangerous surf.

Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 hurricane overnight but still remains a formidable major storm.Erin had max sustained winds of 125 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in an update on Sunday afternoon.