MIAMI — A stronger and bigger Hurricane Erin pelted parts of the Caribbean and was forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week.

It reintensified to a Category 4 storm with 130 mph (215 kph) maximum sustained winds late Sunday as its outer bands lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Erin was forecast to bring tropical storm conditions to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas overnight into Monday.

Additional strengthening was forecast for Monday followed by gradual weakening, but Erin was expected to remain a large, major hurricane into midweek.

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward

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