Hurricane Erin intensifies in Atlantic, eyes Caribbean
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Erin's maximum sustained winds had climbed to 85 miles per hour (137 kilometers per hour) as of 0000 GMT. The storm was located about 310 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, which include the US and British Virgin Islands.
Erin, the first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season, is forecast to bring heavy rainfall from late Friday into Sunday, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides, and mudslides. A tropical storm watch was issued for Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelmy, and other islands.
'Steady to rapid strengthening is expected over the next few days, and Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane during the weekend,' the NHC said. The Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Bahamas are on the southern edge of the storm's projected path.
Rainfall totals could reach six inches (15 centimeters) in isolated areas, while large swells are expected to generate life-threatening surf and rip currents across parts of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The storm is forecast to turn northward late Sunday, likely keeping it well off the US mainland. But meteorologists warned of hazardous waves and coastal erosion along parts of North Carolina.
Forecasters say this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November, is likely to be more active than usual. Last year, several powerful storms battered the region, including Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people in the southeastern United States.
Scientists warn that climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions, is fueling more intense and rapidly strengthening hurricanes. Budget cuts and staff reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the NHC, have also raised concerns about the agency's ability to keep pace with increasingly volatile storm seasons.
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Arab News
2 days ago
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Al Arabiya
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NHC downgrades Erin to Category 2 hurricane
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