Tropical Storm Ernesto has been reclassified as a hurricane.
After being downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center on Monday said the storm's maximum sustained winds increased near 90 mph, which is fast enough to be considered a Category 1 hurricane.
Ernesto is also producing a high risk for rip currents along the Atlantic Coast through Tuesday. A rip current warning has been issued for the coast from Florida to as north as Maine.
The storm is expected to pass near Newfoundland, Canada by early Tuesday, and is causing dangerous and deadly swells along the northeast coast.
"Beach goers should be aware that there is significant risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents, and should stay out of the water if advised by lifeguards," the National Hurricane Center said in a statement, adding that rip current conditions are expected to continue for the next day or so.
The hurricane might not be making landfall in the U.S. but it is wreaking havoc.
Two people died just hours apart Friday after apparently getting caught in strong rip currents near South Carolina's Hilton Head Island, WJCL reported.
In neighboring North Carolina, more than 40 people had to be rescued from rip currents along the coast over the weekend -- including 33 at Wrightsville Beach, WRAL reported.
Likewise, in New Jersey, two dozen swimmers on Long Beach Island had to be rescued from rip currents over the weekend, KYW Newsradio reported.
The good news is that weakening is forecast, and Ernesto is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone by early Tuesday.
"Ernesto has likely peaked in strength," the National Hurricane Center said Monday evening. "Since the hurricane has now crossed the north wall of the Gulf Stream and moving into an environment of increasing shear and drier air, steady or rapid weakening is expected to begin soon."