BEAUMONT, Texas — Hurricane Erin has rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds and is forecast to become a major hurricane this weekend as it passes north of the Caribbean islands, the National Hurricane Center announced Friday night.

The hurricane was located about 250 miles east-northeast of Anguilla as of 10 p.m. Central Time Friday, moving west-northwest at 17 mph. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft confirmed the storm's intensification with dropsonde data showing a minimum central pressure of 979 millibars.

12News meteorologist Patrick Vaughn noted an eye is forming on the hurricane and it could reach category 4 strength by Saturday evening. He noted the storm is being steered by a subtropical ridge that will eventually break down off the Southeast coast, allowi

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