Hurricane Erin Rapidly Intensifies To Category 4: A Look At Areas Bracing For Floods
Hurricane Erin is now a Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds, affecting the northeastern Caribbean with gusts, rain and dangerous surf.
Hurricane Erin has exploded in strength as it churns above the northeastern Caribbean on Saturday, delivering gusty winds, rain and dangerous surf to islands south of its path. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Hurricane Erin's sustained winds reached 145 mph Saturday morning, making it a powerful Category 4 storm. In just 24 hours, Hurricane Erin's winds more than doubled in speed, surging from a 70 mph tropical storm Friday morning to a major hurricane by Saturday morning.
As of the latest update, Hurricane Erin was located about 150 miles northeast of Anguilla. The storm is passing just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico while gradually turning north. No direct landfall is expected on the northeastern Caribbean islands, though tropical alerts remain in effect, warning of potential impacts.
Forecast And Potential Impacts
Hurricane Erin is expected to continue tracking north over the western Atlantic next week, likely staying away from the United States and Bermuda. However, forecasters caution that any shift in its path could change that outlook. Even without a direct hit, both areas may experience rough surf and dangerous rip currents.
The US Coast Guard closed the ports of St. Thomas and St. John in the US Virgin Islands, along with six seaports in Puerto Rico, to inbound vessels unless authorized. The storm is already producing rough seas, rip currents and periods of heavy rain across the islands.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected in some areas this weekend, with localized amounts up to 6 inches possible, raising the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
Hurricane Erin is the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, following four earlier storms- Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter- none of which exceeded tropical storm strength.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Erin weakens to a Category 3 hurricane, but expected to strengthen anew and grow in size
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 hurricane on Sunday, its outer bands lashing the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as forecasters warned the storm was rapidly growing in size and would gain new strength. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached an exceedingly dangerous Category 5 status Saturday before weakening.(AP) While Erin's maximum winds diminished, its overall size grew and forecasters issued tropical storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas. The hurricane's outer bands were pelting parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rains and tropical-storm winds during the day. The storm wasn't expected to directly impact the US East Coast, but by doubling or tripling in size it could bring rip currents all along the coast. Gusty winds and flooding tides could wash out parts of the highway that connects the North Carolina Outer Banks by midweek, the National Weather Service said. Bermuda could have similar conditions as Erin is forecast to turn to the north and then northeast, forecasters said. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached an exceedingly dangerous Category 5 status Saturday with maximum winds of 160 mph (260 kph) before weakening. The storm's maximum sustained winds were 125 mph (205 kph) Sunday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The winds decreased as the storm went through internal changes. Erin is expected to remain powerful for the next several days and is expected to strengthen somewhat over the next 48 hours as it grows, forecasters said Sunday afternoon. 'You're dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It's a dangerous hurricane in any event,' said Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center. Erin's center was about 275 miles (445 kilometers) northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 165 miles (270 kilometers) east of Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph). On the forecast track, the core of Erin was expected to pass to the east and northeast of the Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas overnight and on Monday. The rain and winds from the outer bands of the storm left about 147,000 customers without power Sunday morning in Puerto Rico, according to Luma Energy, a private company that oversees the transmission and distribution of power on the island. The weather canceled more than 20 flights, officials said. Swells were also expected to affect portions of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands during the next couple of days, forecasters said. The Coast Guard allowed all ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to reopen on Sunday as winds and rains in the area decrease. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, and in this case, within 24 hours, the hurricane center said. Heavy rain is still expected across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with rainfall of 3 to 6 inches (about 7.6 to 15 centimeters), with 8 inches (20 centimeters) in some isolated areas. Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Hurricane Erin weakens to category 3, heavy rains hit Puerto Rico
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 storm on Sunday, though its outer bands continued to lash Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rain and tropical-storm-force said Erin's maximum winds decreased, but the storm grew in size. Tropical storm warnings were issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a watch in effect for the southeast the hurricane is not expected to directly strike the US East Coast, its expansion could trigger rip currents along the shoreline. The National Weather Service warned gusty winds and flooding tides may wash out sections of the highway linking the North Carolina Outer Banks by midweek. Bermuda could also see similar conditions as Erin turns north and then northeast. Erin became the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reaching Category 5 status on Saturday with maximum winds of 160 mph before losing strength. The National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of 125 mph late Sunday morning.'You're dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It's a dangerous hurricane in any event,' said Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane RICO FACES POWER OUTAGES AND FLIGHT CANCELLATONSErin's center was located about 235 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 200 miles east of Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 13 storm's outer bands left about 147,000 customers in Puerto Rico without power, according to Luma Energy. More than 20 flights were canceled Sunday due to weather are expected to impact the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos in the coming days. Heavy rainfall between 3 to 6 inches, with up to 8 inches in some areas, is Coast Guard reopened all ports in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands Sunday as winds and rains subsided. Meanwhile, the Bahamian government issued a tropical storm watch for the Southeast have linked rapid hurricane intensification in the Atlantic to climate change, noting that warmer ocean waters are fuelling stronger storms and heavier rainfall.- EndsWith inputs from Associated PressMust Watch
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Hurricane Erin weakens to Category 3 as forecasters wait for northward turn
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 hurricane Sunday as its outer bands continued to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with heavy rains and tropical-storm force winds. While Erin's maximum winds diminished, the storm's overall size grew and forecasters issued tropical storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch for the southeast Bahamas. Show more Show less
