Hurricane Erin has intensified into a Category 4 storm in the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of Saturday, the hurricane is located about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Anguilla, with maximum sustained winds reaching 130 mph (215 kph). The storm is moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 mph (31 kph). While it is not currently projected to make landfall, strong winds are impacting nearby islands, leading to warnings of potential flooding and landslides.

Tropical storm watches have been issued for St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Sint Maarten. The National Hurricane Center forecasts that these areas could receive up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain, with isolated amounts possibly reaching 6 inches (15 centimeters). The NHC cautioned that "locally, considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides, are possible."

Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry indicated that Erin is expected to make a sharp turn northeast, which would steer it away from the continental United States. He stated, "All of our best consensus aids show Erin turning safely east of the United States next week, but it'll be a much closer call for Bermuda, which could land on the stronger eastern side of Erin."

In preparation for the storm, the U.S. government has deployed over 200 personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to Puerto Rico. A flood watch has been issued for the entire U.S. territory from late Friday through Monday. Puerto Rico Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña reported that 367 shelters have been inspected and are ready to open if necessary.

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed six seaports in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands to all incoming vessels unless they have prior authorization. Officials in the Bahamas are also preparing public shelters and advising residents to monitor the hurricane closely. Aarone Sargent, managing director for the Bahamas' disaster risk management authority, emphasized the unpredictability of storms, stating, "These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement."

Hurricane Erin formed as a tropical storm on Monday, west of Cabo Verde, a few hundred miles off the coast of Africa. It is the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. So far, Tropical Storm Chantal is the only storm to have made landfall in the U.S., causing severe flooding in North Carolina in early July. In June, Barry made landfall as a tropical depression on Mexico's eastern coast.

Alex DaSilva, a lead hurricane expert, noted that Erin is expected to strengthen further as it moves over warm Atlantic waters. He stated, "Water temperatures at the surface and hundreds of feet deep are several degrees higher than the historical average."

This hurricane season is anticipated to be particularly active, with forecasts predicting six to ten hurricanes, three to five of which could reach major hurricane status with winds exceeding 110 mph (177 kph).