Hurricane Erin gained strength Friday as it churned in the Atlantic Ocean and bore down on the Caribbean, where it could bring heavy rain to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that as of 0000 GMT, the storm's maximum sustained winds increased to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour, and was located about 310 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, an area that includes the US and British Virgin Islands.

Erin, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this year, is expected to produce heavy rain from late Friday into Sunday for those areas, the center said, warning of possible isolated and local "considerable flash and urban flooding," along with landslides or mudslides.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Bar

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