Hurricane Erin intensified rapidly over the Caribbean, reaching Category 5 status on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center reported that Erin's maximum sustained winds increased from 100 mph to 160 mph in just nine hours. Mike Brennen, director of the National Hurricane Center, described Erin as a “very powerful hurricane.”

Initially a tropical storm, Erin escalated to a hurricane within 24 hours. By late Saturday morning, it was located about 105 miles north of Anguilla, moving west at 17 mph. Although the storm's center is not expected to make landfall, it poses a risk of heavy rainfall and flooding to nearby islands. Tropical storm watches have been issued for St. Martin, St. Barts, and St. Maarten.

The Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain could lead to flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides in affected areas. Wind gusts reaching tropical storm force are also possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. Despite its compact size, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles from its center, Erin is projected to double or triple in size in the coming days, potentially creating dangerous rip currents along parts of the U.S. East Coast later in the week.

Coastal areas such as North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Long Island, and Cape Cod may face a higher risk of severe tropical storm conditions. Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes to climate change, noting that warmer ocean temperatures provide more fuel for storms.

Erin is the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The season is expected to be active, with forecasts predicting six to ten hurricanes, including three to five that could reach major status.

In preparation for the storm, the U.S. government has deployed over 200 personnel from FEMA 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 stated that 367 shelters have been inspected and could be opened if necessary.

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed six seaports in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands to incoming vessels unless they have prior authorization. Officials in the Bahamas are also preparing public shelters and advising residents to monitor the storm 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.”

As Erin continues to develop, meteorologists are closely monitoring its path and intensity, with expectations of further changes in the coming days.