Topline
Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified to become a Category 5 storm on Saturday, one day after being upgraded from a tropical storm, as forecasters warned of flooding and possible landslides in the Caribbean through the weekend.
The Atlantic’s first hurricane of the season had maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour, forecasters said.
Associated Press
Key Facts
Hurricane Erin intensified into a Category 5 storm Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast.
The hurricane is moving west at about 16 miles per hour, with an expected turn toward the west-northwest, as the center of Hurricane Erin will likely move just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Sunday, the agency said.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Caribbean islands of St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Sint Maarten.
Periods of heavy rainfall are forecast across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as rainfall up to 6 inches in some areas could result in “considerable” flash flooding, including the possibility of landslides or mudslides.
Hurricane Erin likely will not impact the continental U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center, though life-threatening surf and rip currents could be produced along the East Coast as well as in water around the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda through early next week.
How Long Will Hurricane Erin Last?
The National Hurricane Center said “fluctuations in intensity” for Hurricane Erin are expected through the rest of the weekend, and will likely remain a major hurricane—a Category 3 storm or higher—through the middle of next week.
Big Number
18. That’s the maximum number of named storms the National Hurricane Center predicted the Atlantic will experience during the 2025 season, which peaks between August and October. Of the named storms, forecasters expect up to nine hurricanes and five major hurricanes, or storms with wind speeds above 111 miles per hour. There have been five named tropical storms so far this season, including Erin.
Key Background
Erin became the Atlantic’s first hurricane of the season on Friday, days after forming from a cluster of storms off Africa’s west coast. The storm moved west over Cabo Verde, where heavy rainfall and flash floods were reported across the nation’s Sao Vicente island, killing at least eight people. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported Monday at least nine people were killed, another 20,000 injured and some 1,500 were displaced. The National Weather Service expected a slight uptick in significant storms this year, citing warmer ocean temperatures. Weather systems Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter were classified as tropical storms earlier this year, as Barry caused flooding in southeastern Mexico and Central Texas, where flooding killed more than 130 people. Chantal resulted in severe flooding in North Carolina, causing damage to some dams and culverts and resulting in at least two deaths. Neither Andrea or Dexter made landfall.
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