Jose creates rough surf along NC coast as Maria threatens Caribbean

Tropical Storm Maria on Sunday evening was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. The forecast track of Maria takes it directly over Puerto Rico as a hurricane by Wednesday and WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said it could become a Category 3 storm as early as Monday evening.

Once the storm moves over those islands, forecast models differ on where it will go next.

"We're just very uncertain as to where this storm is going to go and if it will have any impacts along the east coast," Wilmoth said.

Tropical Storm Lee continue to move through the Atlantic and is forecast to remain a tropical depression through Thursday.

Only Jose, which was moving north at about 8 mph on Sunday morning, is expected to impact North Carolina's coast, though its threat remains rather low. Forecasters expected the hurricane to turn gradually to the northeast over the next couple days, keeping it offshore.

According to meteorologists, Jose is causing dangerous rip currents and high waves that could affect swimmers and surfers. There could be some scattered bands of rain along the coast as well, along with winds that could gust to between 35 and 50 mph later Monday into early Tuesday over the sounds and Outer Banks.

"We could have some pretty strong wind gusts as well as those high waves and some pretty strong surf out there," Wilmoth said.

Winds were beginning to strengthen in Nags Head on Sunday and a couple getting married on a the beach had waves practically rushing up to their feet.

The strong surf though was not the first bump on the road for them caused by Hurricane Jose.

"Until today, we almost didn't have my dad to walk me down the aisle because he got swept up by one of the waves yesterday and broke two bones in his shoulder," said bride Elizabeth Roche.

Officials are warning beach goers against swimming.