Hurricane Erin was a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds on Monday night as it passed to the east of the Bahamas. The forecast track keeps the center of the storm well away from the U.S. East Coast this week, but tropical storm and storm surge watches have been issued for the North Carolina Outer Banks. National Hurricane Center

Erin's outer bands will start grazing the Outer Banks on Wednesday night, with increasing wind gusts of 40-60 mph.

A watch means the ingredients are there for severe weather. A warning means it is happening. But there are differences based on weather type.

The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued an updated tropical storm watch at 10:41 p.m. on Monday in effect until Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. for Hatteras Island.

On Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA released a fire weather watch valid from Thursday 9 a.m. until Saturday 9 p.m. The watch is for Cuyama Valley, San Luis Obispo County Mountains,

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.

The NWS Wakefield VA released an updated tropical storm watch at 4:58 p.m. on Tuesday in effect until Wednesday at 1 a.m. for Eastern Currituck.

An updated fire weather watch was released by the NWS Hanford CA on Monday at 7:50 p.m. valid from Wednesday 9 a.m. until Saturday 9 p.m. for Fort Tejon.

The Seattle Storm looks to strengthen its grasp on the No. 8 seed in the WNBA playoffs on Tuesday at Wintrust Arena to take on the Chicago Sky.