The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands stretching the coast of North Carolina, featuring more than 100 miles of shoreline. The picturesque seaside communities are known for their beach homes propped on high stilts. MORE: California landslide appears to leave 3 multimillion-dollar homes teetering on edge of cliff

Five unoccupied Outer Banks homes collapsed Tuesday morning into the Atlantic Ocean, increasing the tally to 16 that have tumbled this year.

Hurricane Melissa is already a history-making storm, landing on all-time lists for strongest Atlantic Basin hurricanes and soon for landfalls. The strongest hurricanes in Atlantic Basin history span from the Great Depression to present day.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina stand guard over a treacherous stretch of ocean known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, so it’s almost fitting that something supernatural has been crawling out of the surf just ahead of Halloween.

Melissa is now moving across the Atlantic Ocean as a category 2 hurricane, and is now pushing closely towards the Bermuda Island. The core of this storm will move just west of the island, but there is currently a hurricane warning is in effect for the island as heavy rainfall,

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds, and its strength defied typical weakening factors.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake has struck in open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and was felt throughout the eastern Caribbean.

Five more Outer Banks beach cottages collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean during a Tuesday nor'easter, bringing the total for this year to 15.

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Lorenzo has gotten slightly stronger in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean but still is not threatening land. The U.S.