Hurricane Erin quickly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 major hurricane in 24 hours.
As of the 11 p.m. Saturday advisory, Erin is a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. Erin's intensity could fluctuate over the next 24 hours due to eyewall replacement cycles, but it will remain a very powerful hurricane.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Outer rain bands from Erin has already brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the northern Leeward Islands, with more impacts expected for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Sunday.
WHERE IS ERIN HEADED?
The powerful hurricane is passing noth-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Erin and is moving to the west-northwest around 14 mph. The storm’s center is expected to stay north of the eastern Caribbean islands through Sunday. By early next week, Erin should begin turning northward, keeping the core of the storm to the east of the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast.
While Erin's max winds and pressure may have bottomed out, models agree the hurricane's size will get much bigger in the next few days—even doubling or tripling its size. As Erin grows larger, rough seas and dangerous rip currents will spread far from the storm’s center.
Portions of the Atlantic coastline, including the Treasure Coast, will experience hazardous surf next week.
