Hurricane Erin is the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season. The storm rapidly intensified overnight and is moving north of the Leeward Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.
MIAMI – Hurricane Erin strengthened on Friday, becoming the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Now, all eyes are watching as this system treks just north of the Caribbean islands.
On Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center said Erin had begun undergoing rapid intensification into a major hurricane.
Shortly after Erin began rapid intensification, Hurricane Hunters found that Erin had quickly strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane, with winds reaching at least 130 mph on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
(FOX Weather)
Erin’s center is expected to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend, according to the NHC.
While at this point it doesn’t appear as though the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico will take a direct hit from Hurricane Erin, impacts are beginning to be seen throughout the islands.
“Locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides, are possible,” the National Hurricane Center said in their latest advisory.
Life-threatening surf and rip currents are likely through the Caribbean this weekend and will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the east coast of the United States early next week.
(FOX Weather)
WHAT TO DO WHEN HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR TOWN
Erin was designated a tropical storm on Monday, after first being an area worth further investigation known as Invest 97L. Before even becoming a named system, Invest 97L brought heavy rain to the Cabo Verde islands, causing multiple deaths and major flooding damage.
ABOVE-AVERAGE ACTIVITY EXPECTED THIS HURRICANE SEASON, PER NOAA
Until now, the 2025 season has produced four tropical storms – Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – but no hurricanes.
The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season occurs on Sept. 10.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
