Hurricane Erin's outer bands were beginning to lash the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands early Monday after regaining Category 4 strength overnight.

Hurricane Erin is forecast to move hundreds of miles offshore from the islands but the massive storm is still sending waves 20 feet (6 meters) or greater crashing over vulnerable sand dunes.

Officials there said that even though Hurricane Erin was expected to stay well off their coast, it could still produce dangerous waves more than 20 feet high, which could possibly inundate protective...