Storm Hermine is reported to be regaining power as it moves up the US eastern seaboard, threatening the north-east with dangerous coastal surges.
Hermine is forecast to return to the Category 1 hurricane strength it lost as it left a trail of devastation across part of Florida.
Governors have announced emergency plans along the coast as far north as Connecticut, with many Labour Day weekend events cancelled.
The biggest threat could be from storm surges stretching from Virginia to New Jersey. They could reach up to 5ft if they hit at high tide, forecasters have warned.
Senior National Hurricane Center specialist Daniel Brown told Reuters: “[Hermine] is going to sit offshore and it is going to be a tremendous coastal event with a dangerous storm surge and lots of larger waves probably causing significant beach erosion for the next few days.”
He predicted rainfall of up to 7 inches from Virginia to Long Island.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency in three coastal counties and Delaware Governor Jack Markell has declared a limited state of emergency for Sussex County.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo closed Long Island’s coastal beaches on Sunday.
Several weekend events to mark the Labour Day public holiday today (Monday) have been affected, including a Bruce Springsteen concert in Virginia Beach which was pushed back by two days.
A lorry driver killed when his vehicle was blown over in North Carolina and a man died from being hit by a falling tree in Florida.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in an updated travel advisory: “Tropical Storm Hermine is forecast to bring high winds, including sporadic tornadoes, heavy rain, hazardous sea conditions and flooding to coastal Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia until Monday.
“You should monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the instructions issued by the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.”