Erin turns deadly — tropical storm becomes Category 5 hurricane overnight, rains loom and here's what you need to do
Hurricane Erin, the first of the 2025 Atlantic season, quickly became a Category 5 storm. Though it is expected to stay offshore, islands like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas are preparing for impact. The rapid intensification, linked to climate change, worries forecasters. Coastal areas of the US East Coast may face dangerous conditions. Emergency preparations are underway in affected regions.
AP This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Erin on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (NOAA via AP)
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Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Hurricane Erin Weakens While Drenching Puerto Rico, Islands
(Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Erin's winds dropped on Sunday as it wobbled westward, bringing heavy rain across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico before turning north and probably restrengthening in the coming days. The storm, the first hurricane of the 2025 season, is expected to pass between North Carolina's Outer Banks and Bermuda later this week. About 170 miles (275 kilometers) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Erin's top winds are blowing at 125 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, the US National Hurricane Center said in an update at 8 a.m. EDT. Erin's winds increased rapidly on Saturday to reach 160 mph, making it a scale-topping Category 5 storm and one of the earliest examples of such a powerful system to emerge in the Atlantic. In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl became earliest storm to reach top intensity during the six-month Atlantic season. In addition to its wind speeds, which are forecast to increase again, reaching 145 mph in the next day, Erin will swell in size. 'The expanding wind field will result in rough ocean conditions over much of the western Atlantic,' Senior Hurricane Specialist John Cangialosi wrote in the center's forecast. 'Given its track adjustments and increasing size, the government of the Bahamas has issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a tropical storm watch for southeast Bahamas.' While Erin barely grazed Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it still knocked out power to many residents. About 10% of Puerto Rico was without electricity overnight, Luma Energy reported, and crews on the US Virgin Islands were working to restore energy on Sunday. If Erin holds to its forecast track, it will avoid a direct strike on any of the islands in the area or the US East Coast. It's expected to trace a shallow, c-shape arc through the western Atlantic, passing between North Carolina and Bermuda overnight Wednesday into Thursday. In addition to Erin, another tropical wave that bears watching is moving off Africa into the Atlantic, said Dan Pydynowski, a meteorologist with commercial-forecaster AccuWeather Inc. The patch of thunderstorms and showers is currently near Cabo Verde off Africa's coast and moving west across the Atlantic, with a 20% chance of becoming a storm in the next week. That part of the ocean, between the Caribbean and Africa, is known as the main development region to forecasters and it's where some of history's most deadly and damaging storms have formed. It's also a part of the ocean that becomes particularly active between mid-August and late September. 'It's that time of year, the later part of August,' Pydynowski said. 'We will have to watch that. We are quickly approaching the peak of hurricane season.' --With assistance from Alex Newman. More stories like this are available on
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Will Hurricane Erin hit Florida? Storm intensifies concerns along the East Coast
Hurricane Erin, which rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Saturday, August 16, has now weakened to a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Despite the reduction in wind speed, Erin is expanding in size and remains a major system to watch out for in the Atlantic, according to Naples Daily News. Hurricane Erin has weakened to a Category 3 storm but remains significant, with dangerous surf and rip currents expected along the Florida and East Coast. (Photo by Handout / NOAA / AFP) (AFP) The report added that Hurricane Erin, as of early August 17, was located about 150 miles north of Puerto Rico, moving west-northwest at 14mph. The storm's outer rainbands are already producing gusty winds and heavy rainfall across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with tropical storm warnings in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and watches issued for the southeastern Bahamas. Hurricane Erin: Forecast track and potential impacts Forecasters expect Erin's core to pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas late Sunday into Monday. A gradual turn to the north is projected on Monday and Tuesday, which should steer Erin away from a direct landfall on Florida or the southeastern United States, according to another CNN report. By midweek, the hurricane is forecast to be located roughly midway between Bermuda and the East Coast of the US. Even with the storm's center offshore, its impacts will stretch across a wide area due to its expanding wind field. Hurricane-force winds currently extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach nearly 205 miles, CNN reports added. Florida and East Coast concerns Naples Daily News report stated that though Florida is not expected to see a direct landfall, residents and visitors have been urged to remain alert. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has warned of dangerous rip currents and high surf along the Florida coast between August 18 and August 21. Breakers greater than seven feet are expected on August 19 and August 20, creating hazardous beach conditions. Beyond Florida, dangerous surf and rip currents will be affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda, much of the US East Coast, and Atlantic Canada in the coming days, the CNN report added. Also read: Terrifying beauty of Hurricane Erin's eye: 'Stadium effect' video takes over X While Erin's rapid intensification shocked forecasters as it jumped from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just over 24 hours, it is not the only Atlantic hurricane to reach that intensity level. According to an Associated Press report, meteorologists said only 43 Atlantic hurricanes have ever reached Category 5 strength on record. Erin's explosive growth highlights a trend of more frequent rapid intensification events in recent years as ocean waters warm. FAQs Is Hurricane Erin headed for Florida? No. Forecasts show Erin turning north, away from Florida. However, coastal areas will still face dangerous surf and rip currents. What areas are under warning? A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A tropical storm watch is in place for the southeastern Bahamas. What impacts could Florida see? Hazardous surf, rip currents, and offshore dangerous conditions are expected from August 18 to 21, especially on August 19 and 20. How strong is Erin right now? As of Sunday morning, Erin is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph. Forecasters warn the storm could fluctuate in strength as it undergoes structural changes.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
US braces for Hurricane Erin's wrath: Flooding, landslides expected in Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico amid heavy rainfall
Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane early Sunday, but still remains a formidable major hurricane. A tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands and winds and heavy rains lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Erin has weakened to a category three hurricane as it moves towards the Bahamian Archipelago in the Caribbean. Erin had max winds of 125 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. The next update is expected at 8 a.m. ET, according to ABC News. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 status before weakening, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as Erin's outer bands will graze the islands with heavy rain and gusty winds. Tropical storm watches are also in effect for the southeast Bahamas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo Erin is still expected to slow down and begin turning to the north later today through the early work week. ALSO READ: Hurricane Erin 2025 turns deadly? NHC's urgent warning of flash food, heavy rainfall as these US states are at risk "Hurricane #Erin Advisory 24A: Erin'S Outer Rainbands Continuing to Produce Gusty Winds And Heavy Rains Across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico," the NHC said in its latest update. Live Events — NHC_Atlantic (@NHC_Atlantic) As of the latest update, Erin is located about 140 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or about 330 miles east-south-east of Grand Turk Island. It's moving west-north-west at 14 mph. The outer band of Erin is playing a crucial role in bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Erin is growing in size, with tropical-storm-strength winds extending 205 miles from its centre. Erin's current weakening is considered temporary, as the storm is expected to strengthen again after finishing its eyewall replacement cycle. These cycles are a natural part of a hurricane's life, causing brief weakening before re-intensification typically follows. Heavy rains in Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico More than 159,000 customers were without power in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Erin on Sunday morning, according to Luma Energy, a private company that oversees the transmission and distribution of power on the island, reports AP. 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, the NHC reported. The government of the Bahamas also issued a tropical storm watch for the Southeast Bahamas. Flash flood warning issued According to ABC News, "considerable" flash flood warnings have been issued for the US Virgin Islands. Between 3 to 6 inches of rain are estimated by radar to have fallen over St. John and St. Thomas, and between 2 to 4 inches have been reported for the northern sections of Puerto Rico. Flood watches will stay in place across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through Monday morning, with outer bands of Erin still drenching the region. Isolated rainfall totals of 6 to 8 inches remain possible—enough to trigger sudden flash floods, dangerous landslides, and mudslides. Erin will slowly turn north over the next few days thanks to the weakening Bermuda High and a cold front that will sweep through the East Coast to begin the new week. 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. (With AP inputs)
