Hurricane Erin, the first major storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, is currently a Category 3 storm as it moves closer to the Bahamas. Although it recently dropped from Category 5 status, experts say the storm could still grow larger in the coming days.
At its peak on Saturday night, Erin had powerful winds reaching 160 mph (260 km/h). While the wind speed has decreased, the storm is expanding, and meteorologists say it could become more widespread over time.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Erin’s tropical-storm-force winds now stretch as far as 205 miles from its center. Dangerous weather is expected in places like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including flash flooding and possible landslides.
Erin gained strength very quickly late last week, jumping from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in just a short time. But as it began to move northward, away from the Caribbean, its speed and wind intensity began to slow. Forecasters say it’s likely to continue turning away from the US mainland and head back out into the Atlantic next week.
Right now, Erin is moving north of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, bringing strong winds of up to 125 mph. Heavy rain—up to 6 inches (15 cm)—is expected in areas like the Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos on Sunday.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued in the Turks and Caicos, where rough surf, strong winds, and dangerous rip currents are likely.
As of 09:00 GMT, hurricane-force winds were extending up to 25 miles from the storm’s center. The NHC warned that large ocean swells and strong currents could affect much of the US East Coast, especially Florida and mid-Atlantic states. Bermuda and parts of the Bahamas are also expected to experience heavy rain and risky surf.
Due to the rough conditions, the US Coast Guard has restricted ship movement at several ports, including St. Thomas, St. John, and multiple locations in Puerto Rico such as San Juan.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a busier-than-usual hurricane season this year. Scientists also warn that stronger storms, like Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, are becoming more common due to climate change.
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