(CNN) — Hurricane Erin is rapidly intensifying as it tracks above the northeastern Caribbean Saturday, churning up rough surf and sending rain and gusty winds to islands south of its path.

Erin was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph as of Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s winds have more than doubled in speed in the past 24 hours, increasing from a 70 mph tropical storm at 8 a.m. Friday to a 145 mph Category 4 at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Erin is located about 150 miles northeast of Anguilla, the National Hurricane Center notes.

The storm is passing just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend while making a gradual turn toward the north. It’s unlikely it will make a direct landfall on any of the n

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