Erin exploded into a Category 5 hurricane on Saturday after rapidly strengthening over the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Miami-based center said hurricane hunters found Erin had maximum sustained winds near 160 mph and its outer bands were impacting the northern Leeward Islands. A Category 5 hurricane is defined as having maximum sustained winds of 157 mph or higher.

The hurricane was located 110 miles north of Anguilla at 2 p.m. Saturday, moving west at 16 mph. The storm's center was forecast to remain at sea, passing 145 miles north of Puerto Rico, according to the National Weather Service.

Tropical storm watches were issued for St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten. The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flash

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