Latest news with #Category3
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin weakens to Category 3 as forecasters wait for northward turn
Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as winds and heavy rains continue to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin path shifts, prompts new warnings as NHC tracks 2 other Atlantic systems
Hurricane Erin on Sunday dropped in intensity overnight, but was expected to regain strength while its path shifted prompting new warnings and watches to be issued by the Bahamas while the National Hurricane Center kept track of two other Atlantic systems. As of the NHC's 11 a.m. advisory, the center of Erin was located about 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico and 240 miles east of Grand Turk Island moving west-northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, which makes it a Category 3 hurricane. 'This general motion is expected today, followed by a gradual turn to the north on Monday and Tuesday,' said NHC senior hurricane specialist Richard Pasch. 'On the forecast track, the core of Erin is expected to pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight and Monday.' The path shifted more to the south and west than previous projections. The government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos and a tropical storm watch for the southeast Bahamas. The NHC noted interests in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and central Bahamas should monitor the progress of Erin, while its long-term path could mean outer band winds might affect the Carolina and mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. The storm became the season's first hurricane at 11 a.m. Friday, with 75 mph winds, but grew to a 'catastrophic' Category 5 hurricane in just one day, undergoing rapid intensification that had sustained winds of up to 160 mph. It began to lose intensity late Saturday after pushing just north of the northern Leeward Islands. 'This slight decrease in intensity is probably due to an eyewall replacement in the inner core, as reported by the Hurricane Hunters, and is likely a temporary short-term fluctuation,' Pasch said. 'The system remains a well-organized and dangerous major hurricane with a impressively symmetric cloud pattern.' It's forecast to remain a powerful hurricane for the next several days, and its wind field is beginning to grow. 'Erin is growing in size, and that trend is expected to continue over the next few days,' Pasch said. 'The expanding wind field will result in rough ocean conditions over much of the western Atlantic.' Hurricane-force winds extend out 25 miles while tropical-storm-force winds extend out 205 miles. Outer bands continue to lash the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic on Sunday, with 4-6 inches of rain in many places, but some areas that could get up to 8 inches. The could lead to flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides. The system passed by the Cape Verde Islands earlier in the week, causing flash floods blamed for at least nine deaths. It has been moving quickly across the Atlantic. The swells from the storm with dangerous surf and rip currents continue to hit the northeastern Caribbean islands and by early next week are forecast to spread to the Bahamas, Florida and rest of the U.S. East Coast as the storm intensifies and moves up into the Atlantic. 'The forecast cone takes the storm well east of Florida, but coastal impacts are forecast next week,' the National Weather Service in Melbourne stated. 'Surf, rip current and boating impacts reach our coast starting Monday and will peak Tuesday-Wednesday.' The NHC was also keeping track of two other systems in the Atlantic with a chance to develop into the season's next tropical depression or storm. The next name on the list after Erin is Fernand. As of the NHC's 8 a.m. tropical outlook, the most concerning system for Florida was an area of low pressure that could form by midweek from a tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms and trailing the path of Hurricane Erin in the central tropical Atlantic. 'Some gradual development of this system is possible during the middle to latter portion of the week while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic,' forecasters said. The NHC gave it a 20% chance to develop in the next seven days. The NHC also continued to track an area of low pressure a couple hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina that had disorganized shower activity to the east of the center. 'Development, if any, of this system should be slow to occur during the next day or so while it moves little over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream,' forecasters said. 'The opportunity for development should end on Monday, when environmental conditions are expected to become unfavorable.' The NHC gave it a 10% chance to develop in the next two days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently updated its season forecast, now calling for 13-18 named storms for the year, of which five to nine would grow into hurricanes. Two to five of those would develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. The height of hurricane season runs from mid-August into October while the entire six-month season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. _____
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Thousands without power after Hurricane Erin strikes Puerto Rico
Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, yet its outer bands continue to batter the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with torrential rain and tropical-storm force winds. Despite a reduction in maximum wind speeds, the hurricane's overall size has grown, leading to tropical storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch for the southeast Bahamas. Although Erin is not expected to make a direct impact on the US East Coast, its expanded footprint could generate hazardous rip currents along the entire coastline. The National Weather Service has cautioned that gusty winds and flooding tides may wash out sections of the highway linking North Carolina 's Outer Banks by mid-week. Bermuda could experience similar conditions as forecasters predict Erin will turn northwards, then northeast. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached 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) late Sunday morning, 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, forecasters said. "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 235 miles (380 kilometers) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 200 miles (320 kilometers) east of the Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph). 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 Sunday as winds and rains 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. The government of the Bahamas also issued a tropical storm watch for the Southeast Bahamas. 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.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin is one of the fastest rapidly intensifying storms in Atlantic history
Erin was a Category 3 hurricane Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. update, with sustained winds of 125 mph, with tropical storm-force winds reaching out 205 miles. The storm is expected to continue to fluctuate in intensity as it undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle, a process that causes the storm's windfield to grow. The powerful storm has undergone astonishingly rapid changes — a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms. It quickly became a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday, before weakening and becoming a larger system on Sunday as it churns through the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean. Erin went from a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds at 11 a.m. Friday to a Category 5 with near 160 mph winds just over 24 hours later. It put Erin in the history books as one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record, and potentially the fastest intensification rate for any storm earlier than September 1. Rapid intensification is when a hurricane gains at least 35 mph of wind speed in at least 24 hours. Extreme rapid intensification historically tends to happen in September and October. Even more hurricanes are rapidly intensifying in the Atlantic as the oceans and atmosphere warm in response to fossil fuel pollution and the global warming it causes. This likely makes Erin another example of the increasing extremes of a warming world. Furthermore, Hurricane Erin is now one of only 43 Category 5 hurricanes on record in the Atlantic – which makes it rare, though not as rare in the context of recent hurricane seasons – as peak strength is becoming easier for storms to achieve. It is the 11th Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic since 2016, an unusually high number. It's also unusual to see a Category 5 storm form so early in the season, particularly outside of the Gulf of Mexico. Mid-August is around the time of peak hurricane activity, but the strongest storms tend to occur later in the season. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is now the fourth straight season to feature a Category 5 storm, with two occurring last year, hurricanes Beryl and Milton. Hurricane Erin is still expected to avoid a direct hit on any land mass, passing north of Puerto Rico, then curving north-northeast into the open Atlantic between the East Coast and Bermuda next week. As it does so, it is expected to double or even triple in size. Erin is about 150 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico and about 160 miles northwest of Anguilla as of Saturday evening. A flash flood warning has been issued for northern Puerto Rico until midnight Saturday and tropical storm watches remain in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and parts of the Leeward Islands. The outer bands of the storm will continue to produce areas of heavy rainfall through Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, the Hurricane Center said. Considerable flash flooding, landslides and mudslides, are possible, it added. The storm is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the beaches of the Bahamas, much of the US East Coast, and Atlantic Canada next week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Erin sustained winds near 150 mph as of Saturday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. Fluctuations in intensity are expected for the rest of the weekend, as Erin brings rain and strong wind gusts to the Caribbean islands south of it. Erin is expected to persist until Monday, when it will start to slowly weaken. Erin's powerful wind field is forecast to at least double or triple in size next week, resulting in rough beach conditions on the East Coast. The storm is passing just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend while making a gradual turn toward the north. It's unlikely it will make a direct landfall on any of the northeastern Caribbean islands, though tropical alerts are in place for some of these areas cautioning potential threats. Erin is forecast to track north over the western Atlantic next week, away from the United States and Bermuda, but that could change if the storm turns more or less sharply than currently forecast. Even if the forecast remains consistent, Erin could cause issues for both places in the form of rough surf and dangerous rip currents. n anticipation of the hurricane, the US Coast Guard captain for the port of San Juan has directed that the ports of St. Thomas and St. John in the US Virgin Islands, and six seaports in Puerto Rico be closed to all inbound vessel traffic unless specifically authorized. Rough seas and rip currents around the islands will continue into early next week. Gusty wind and rain – which could be heavy at times – are also impacting the islands as Erin slides by. Some spots could record 2 to 4 inches of rain this weekend with localized amounts up to 6 inches possible in the heaviest downpours. Intense rain could also cause flash flooding or mudslides. There's plenty of fuel in the region for Erin to tap into as sea surface temperatures are much warmer than normal. They aren't quite as warm as the record levels reached in 2023 and 2024, but are still far warmer than they'd be in a world that wasn't heating up. Erin is the Atlantic's first major hurricane of the season. Four other systems roamed the Atlantic basin before Erin – Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – but none were stronger than a tropical storm. The first hurricane of the season typically forms around August 11, so Erin was slightly behind schedule, particularly compared to early arrivals in recent seasons. There had already been three hurricanes – Beryl, Debby and Ernesto – by August 15 last year. There will be more chances for tropical systems to develop this month. Longer term forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center highlight the same part of the Atlantic Erin developed in as a place to watch for new storms into at least early September. August is when the tropics usually come alive: The busiest stretch of the season typically spans from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters expect above-average tropical activity this year. This story has been updated with additional information.
National Post
13 hours ago
- Climate
- National Post
Hurricane Erin downgraded to Category 3, expected to turn northward: meteorologists
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. Article content 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. Article content Article content The storm wasn't expected to directly impact the U.S. East Coast, but by doubling or tripling in size it could bring rip currents all along the Southeast 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. Article content Article content Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 status Saturday with maximum winds of 160 mph (260 kph) before weakening. Article content The storm's maximum sustained winds were 125 mph (205 km/h) late Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Article content The winds decreased as the storm went through internal changes. Erin is expected to remain powerful for the next several days, forecasters said. Article content '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. Article content Article content Last night, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew into the eye of Hurricane Erin—and captured imagery of the breathtaking stadium effect. These missions provide critical data to the NHC to improve forecasts, helping keep communities safe before the storm makes… — Hurricane Hunters (@53rdWRS) August 16, 2025 Article content Erin's center was about 200 miles (320 kilometres) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 240 miles (385 kilometres) east of the Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph). Article content 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 cancelled more than 20 flights, officials said. Article content 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. Article content 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 centimetres), with 8 inches (20 centimetres) in some isolated areas. Article content
