NEW YORK (WABC) -- Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for New Jersey on Thursday afternoon as Hurricane Erin battered coastal communities with strong winds and waves that flooded streets and eroded beaches.

Murphy warned that "life-threatening rip currents will be present at all ocean beaches across the state" for the next few days.

"Absolutely no one should be in the water today or tomorrow," he wrote on social media.

He said winds could reach 50 mph, waves could be as high as 17 feet, and 1 to 3 feet of water could inundate some flood-prone areas.

As of Thursday afternoon, Erin was located 285 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, quickly moving away from the East Coast.

Erin is expected to continue speeding away from the East Coast through Friday.

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