Hurricane Erin strengthened quickly in the central Atlantic and remains a potent threat as it moves north and west. The National Hurricane Center reported at 5 p.m. ET Sunday that Erin is a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph, and tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 205 miles from the center. Forecasters say the storm will likely fluctuate in intensity and could grow in size, bringing rough ocean conditions to much of the western Atlantic as it continues on its current path.
Erin’s rapid intensification has drawn attention for its speed. The storm surged from a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds at 11 a.m. Friday to a near-160 mph Category 5 within roughly 24 hours. This explosive strengthening places Erin among the fastest intensifying Atlantic hurricanes on record, and it underscores a broader trend cited by scientists: warming oceans and a warmer atmosphere are contributing to more frequent and extreme storms.
As of now, Erin is one of only 43 Category 5 hurricanes documented in the Atlantic and is the 11th such storm since 2016, a period that has seen an unusually high number of the strongest storms. The 2025 season has already featured a Category 5 hurricane, making it the fourth straight season with such a storm and following the Category 5s Beryl and Milton from the previous year.
Despite its ferocity, Erin is not expected to make a direct landfall. The hurricane is projected to pass north of Puerto Rico and curve north-northeast into the open Atlantic, staying between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda as it potentially doubles or even triples in size. Nevertheless, the broader danger is posed by strong rip currents and elevated surf along coastlines from the Bahamas to the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada throughout the week.
Coastal residents are already bracing for impacts. In North Carolina, Dare County issued a state of emergency and a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, with coastal flooding and ocean overwash expected as early as Tuesday and continuing through Thursday. Portions of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island are likely to be impassable for several days.
Erin’s outer bands have been bringing heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, with 2 to 4 inches anticipated on the island through Monday and up to 6 inches across the Turks and Caicos Islands and the eastern Bahamas through Tuesday. The storm has already caused power outages for about 100,000 people in Puerto Rico.
Meteorologists note that sea-surface temperatures in the region remain well above seasonal norms, providing ample fuel for Erin even if temperatures are not at record highs seen in 2023 and 2024. Erin marks the Atlantic’s first major hurricane of the season, following earlier systems Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter, none of which reached hurricane strength.
Looking ahead, officials from the Climate Prediction Center anticipate above-average tropical activity for the remainder of August, with the tropical season typically peaking from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters expect Erin’s region to remain a focal point for development into early September, as longer-range patterns continue to favor storm formation in this portion of the Atlantic.
What to watch for next:
– Erin’s exact track and changes in intensity as it interacts with prevailing winds and dry air.
– The evolving risk of rip currents and high surf along the U.S. East Coast, the Bahamas, and Atlantic Canada.
– Possible impacts from rainfall and coastal flooding on affected islands and communities, even without direct landfall.
– Any new watches, warnings, or evacuations issued by local authorities, particularly for the Outer Banks and other vulnerable coastal zones.
Editor’s note: The best defense against hurricane hazards is preparedness. Residents in or near affected areas should stay tuned to official forecasts, heed evacuation orders, secure property, and avoid coastal waters during rough seas and dangerous currents. While Erin does not pose an immediate landfall threat, its behavior illustrates how quickly conditions can change in a warming Atlantic.
Key takeaways:
– Erin is a major hurricane with the potential to rapidly expand in size even if it stays offshore.
– The storm’s path keeps it away from direct landfall, but dangerous surf and rip currents will spread along wide swaths of the coast this week.
– Coastal communities are monitoring for flooding, overwash, and roadway closures, with evacuations currently in effect for parts of Hatteras Island, North Carolina.
– The season continues to show strong activity with multiple Category 5 storms observed in recent years, likely linked to warmer oceans and a changing climate.