Latest news with #HurricaneCentre
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Hurricane Erin explodes in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Atlantic near Caribbean Islands
Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in Atlantic waters just north of the Caribbean on Saturday (August 16, 2025), rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Centre said. While the compact hurricane's centre was not expected to strike land, it threatened to dump flooding rains in the northeast Caribbean as it continued to grow larger. The first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, Erin ramped up from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in a mere 24 hours. By late Saturday morning, its maximum sustained winds more than doubled to 160 mph (255 kph). Mike Brennen, director of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, said Erin grew into a 'very powerful hurricane,' with its winds gaining 60 mph (96 kph) in about nine hours. 'We expect to see Erin peak here in intensity relatively soon,' Mr. Brennan said in an online briefing. The Hurricane Centre said Erin should weaken somewhat late Saturday or early Sunday as the storm encounters increased wind shear and possibly takes in more dry air. However forecasters predicted that it will remain a major hurricane until midweek. Erin close enough to land to trigger flooding, landslides The hurricane was located 110 miles (180 kilometres) north of Anguilla at Saturday afternoon and moving west at 16 mph (26 kph). The storm's centre was forecast to remain at sea, passing 145 miles (233 kilometres) north of Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Tropical storm watches were issued for St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten, and the hurricane centre warned that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flash flooding, landslides and mudslides. Tropical-storm force wind gusts were possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas. Though compact, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles (45 km) from its centre, Erin was expected to double or even triple in size in the coming days. Powerful rip currents could affect the U.S. East Coast from Florida to the mid-Atlantic next week, despite the eye of the storm forecast to remain far offshore, Mr. Brennan said. An incredible' race from tropical storm to Category 5 Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry said Erin gained strength at a pace that was 'incredible for any time of year, let alone August 16th.' Mr. Lowry said only four other Category 5 hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic on or before Aug. 16. The most powerful storms tend to form later in the year, with the hurricane season typically peaking in mid-September. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma rocketed from a tropical storm to a Category 5 in less than 24 hours, according to National Hurricane Center advisories from that time. Wilma weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before striking Florida. And in October 2007, Hurricane Felix took just over a day to go from a tropical storm to Category 5. Including Erin, there have been 43 hurricanes that have reached Category 5 status on record in the Atlantic, said Dan Pydynowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, a private forecasting company. 'They're certainly rare, although this would mark the fourth year in a row that we've had one in the Atlantic basin,' Pydynowski said. Conditions needed for hurricanes to reach such strength include very warm ocean water, little to no wind shear and being far from land, he said. Scientists say warming climate linked to storms strengthening faster Scientists have linked rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapour and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly. Storms that ramp up so quickly complicate forecasting for meteorologists and make it harder for government agencies to plan for emergencies. Hurricane Erick, a Pacific storm that made landfall June 19 in Oaxaca, Mexico, also strengthened rapidly, doubling in intensity in less than a day. Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and the first hurricane. The 2025 season is expected to be unusually busy, with six to 10 hurricanes in the forecast including three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). In San Juan, Puerto Rico, locals and tourists walked, exercised and shopped as usual Saturday. Restaurants were busy, and despite warnings to avoid beaches, people could be seen in the water at Ultimo Trolley and Ocean Park beaches. Parents kept their children from swimming, however. Sarahí Torres and Joanna Cornejo, who were visiting from California for a Bad Bunny concert, said they decided to go to the beach and wade into the water because the skies appeared calm. 'The weather looked fine, so we came out,' Torres said. The U.S. government deployed more than 200 employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to Puerto Rico as a precaution. Puerto Rico Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña said 367 shelters were inspected and ready to open if needed. Meanwhile officials in the Bahamas prepared some public shelters as a precaution as they urged people to monitor the hurricane. 'These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement,' said Aarone Sargent, managing director for the Bahamas' disaster risk management authority.
ITV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- ITV News
Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthens to rare Category 5 storm
Hurricane Erin has been swiftly powering up as it makes its way across the Caribbean, with forecasters warning it could double or triple in size by the middle of next week. Within the space of a day, it was upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 5 storm, with sustained winds near 160mph as of late Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Centre. While the compact hurricane's centre was not expected to hit land as of Saturday, it threatens to dump flooding rains as it continues to grow. Mike Brennen, director of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, said Erin had swiftly grown into a 'very powerful hurricane,' racing from maximum sustained winds of 100 mph to 160 mph in a mere nine hours.'We expect to see Erin peak here in intensity relatively soon,' Brennan said in an online briefing. However fluctuations in intensity are expected for the rest of the weekend, with forecasters expecting Erin to at least double or triple in size by the middle of next week, bringing rough ocean conditions over the western Atlantic. That means the hurricane could create powerful rip currents off parts of the east coast of the US later in the week, even with its eye forecast to remain far offshore. As of Saturday afternoon (UK time) Erin was located about 105 miles north of Anguilla, the National Hurricane Centre notes. It was passing just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend while making a gradual turn toward the north. Hurricane Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, was not expected to make a direct landfall on any of the northeastern Caribbean islands. However, tropical storm watches were issued for St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten, with the Hurricane Centre warning that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flash flooding, landslides and force wind gusts are possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeast Bahamas. Scientists have linked rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures. The warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more that ramp up so quickly complicate forecasting for meteorologists and make it harder for government agencies to plan for emergencies. Hurricane Erick, a Pacific storm that made landfall June 19 in Oaxaca, Mexico, also strengthened rapidly, doubling in intensity in less than a is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. It's the first to become a hurricane. The 2025 hurricane season is expected to be unusually busy. The forecast calls for six to 10 hurricanes, with three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 US government has deployed more than 200 employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to Puerto Rico as a precaution as forecasters issued a flood watch for the entire US territory from late Friday into Rico Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña said 367 shelters have been inspected and could be opened if US Coast Guard said on Friday that it closed six seaports in Puerto Rico and two in the US Virgin Islands to all incoming vessels unless they had received prior officials in the Bahamas said they prepared some public shelters as a precaution as they urged people to track the hurricane.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Hurricane Erin upgraded to Category 5 storm as Caribbean warned of 12ft waves
The hurricane was upgraded to a category four on Saturday before again being escalated to a category five meaning winds have reached 157mph. A hurricane tearing through one part of the world has been upgraded to a powerful category five. The rampant hurricane is blistering through the Caribbean as it continues to intensify, the National Hurricane Centre said. Erin is currently around 150 miles northeast off Anguilla and has seen maximum winds of 157mph as it moves west-northwest at 20mph. It's not expected to hit land but strong winds are affecting nearby islands which has prompted forecasters to warn people of possible flooding, landslides and mudslides. The hurricane was upgraded to a category four on Saturday before again being escalated to a category five meaning winds have reached 157mph. The Hurricane Centre in Miami has also said it will eventually swerve away from the US. Tropical storm watches are in place for St Maartin, St Barts and St Maarten, reports the Mirror. The centre said: 'The outer bands of Erin are expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall through Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico." A hurricane specialist has also warned Erin is set to take a sharp turn northeast which would put it on a path between the US and Bermuda. Michael Lowry told AP: 'All of our best consensus aids show Erin turning safely east of the United States next week, but it'll be a much closer call for Bermuda, which could land on the stronger eastern side of Erin." US coastal areas such as North Carolina's Outer Banks, Long Island and New York all face higher risks of a direct tropical storm or hurricane conditions than other areas of the areas of the coast. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is in place from June 1 to November 30, but it is the first to be deemed a hurricane. The season is expected to be busy, with a forecast of six to ten hurricanes, with as many as half of them expected to reach major status which sees winds of more than 110mph. ABC reports how parts of North Carolina could see waves of eight to 12 feet, with other parts possibly seeing waves of six feet early next week. August, September and October are typically the most active months of the Atlantic hurricane season, with the first hurricane usually on August 10.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Hurricane Erin transforms into horrifying Category 5 storm as Caribbean warned over 12ft waves
The growing Hurricane Erin has been escalated twice on Saturday as several areas of the US has been told to expect tropical storms and waves as high as 12 feet A hurricane sweeping through one part of the world has been upgraded to a powerful category five. The rampant hurricane is blistering through the Caribbean as it continues to intensify, the National Hurricane Centre said. Erin is currently around 150 miles northeast off Anguilla and has seen maximum winds of 157mph as it moves west-northwest at 20mph, AP reports. It's not expected to hit land but strong winds are affecting nearby islands which has prompted forecasters to warn people of possible flooding, landslides and mudslides. The hurricane was upgraded to a category four on Saturday before again being escalated to a category five meaning winds have reached 157mph. The Hurricane Centre in Miami has also said it will eventually swerve away from the US. Tropical storm watches are reportedly in place for St Mrtin, St Barts anf St Maarten. The centre said: 'The outer bands of Erin are expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall through Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico." A hurricane specialist has also warned Erin is set to take a sharp turn northeast which would put it on a path between the US and Bermuda. Michael Lowry told AP: 'All of our best consensus aids show Erin turning safely east of the United States next week, but it'll be a much closer call for Bermuda, which could land on the stronger eastern side of Erin." US coastal areas such as North Carolina's Outer Banks, Long Island and New York all face higher risks of a direct tropical storm or hurricane conditions than other areas of the areas of the coast. Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is in place from June 1 to November 30, but it is the first to be deemed a hurricane. The season is expected to be busy, with a forecast of six to ten hurricanes, with as many as half of them expected to reach major status which sees winds of more than 110mph. ABC reports how parts of North Carolina could see waves of eight to 12 feet, with other parts possibly seeing waves of six feet early next week. August, September and October are typically the most active months of the Atlantic hurricane season, with the first hurricane usually on August 10.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Hurricane Erin intensifies to category 4 as it nears Caribbean
Erin strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane in the Caribbean on Saturday (August 16, 2025) and continues to intensify, the National Hurricane Centre said. The storm is currently 240 kilometres northeast of Anguilla with maximum sustained winds of 230 kph. It is moving west-northwest at 31 kph. It is currently not forecast to hit land, but strong winds are affecting nearby islands, prompting forecasters to warn of possible flooding, landslides and mudslides. The Hurricane Centre said it will eventually swerve away from the continental United States. Tropical storm watches are in place for St Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten. 'The outer bands of Erin are expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall through Sunday (August 17, 2025) across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico,' the centre said. The currently 'compact' storm is expected to grow in size in the coming days, resulting in rough ocean waters over the western Atlantic. Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry said Erin is forecast to eventually take a sharp turn northeast that would put it on a path between the U.S. and Bermuda. 'All of our best consensus aids show Erin turning safely east of the United States next week, but it'll be a much closer call for Bermuda, which could land on the stronger eastern side of Erin,' he said. Protruding U.S. coastal areas — such as North Carolina's Outer Banks, Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts — face a higher risk of direct and potentially severe tropical storm or hurricane conditions than much of the southern Atlantic, mid-Atlantic and northern New England coasts, Accuweather said. Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, but the first to reach hurricane status. This year's season is once again expected to be unusually busy. The forecast calls for six to 10 hurricanes, with three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 177 kph. The U.S. Government has deployed more than 200 employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to Puerto Rico as a precaution as forecasters issued a flood watch for the entire U.S. territory from late Friday into Monday. Puerto Rico Housing Secretary Ciary Perez Pena said 367 shelters have been inspected and could be opened if needed. The U.S. Coast Guard said Friday (August 16, 2025) that it closed six seaports in Puerto Rico and two in the US Virgin Islands to all incoming vessels unless they had received prior authorisation. Meanwhile, officials in the Bahamas said they prepared some public shelters as a precaution as they urged people to track the hurricane. 'These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement,' said Aarone Sargent, managing director for the Bahamas' disaster risk management authority.
