Hurricane Erin on Saturday quickly grew into a major Category 3 storm with 120 mph sustained winds as its outer bands began to lash the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of the NHC’s 5 a.m. advisory, the center of Erin was located about 170 miles northeast of Anguilla moving west-northwest at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, having grown in strength from a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane in just 18 hours.

“This motion is expected to continue through the weekend with a gradual decrease in forward speed,” said NHC senior hurricane specialist John Cangialosi. “A turn toward the north is expected to occur early next week. On the forecast track, the center of Erin is expected to

move just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto

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