Hurricane Erin has intensified to a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds at 160mph, per the National Hurricane Center.

Threat level: A new advisory Saturday from the hurricane center is still forecasting "life-threatening surf and rip currents" for the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the East Coast next week. • Swells from Erin, which on Friday was at a Category 1, will impact the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and Turks and Caicos through the weekend

The latest: A tropical storm watch is in effect for St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Sint Maarten. Erin was passing north of northern Leeward Islands at 2pm. • It's Category 5 designation for sustained winds at 157mph or higher indicates "catastrophic damage" on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

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