Hurricane Erin Weakens to Category 4 but Still Threatens Caribbean with Heavy Rains

Hurricane Erin surged to Category 5 before weakening to Category 4, threatening northern Caribbean islands with heavy rain, floods, and dangerous surf. While its center is expected to stay at sea, forecasters warn it will remain powerful through next week. Officials in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas prepared shelters and emergency teams.

Hurricane Erin, the first major Atlantic storm of 2025, has weakened slightly to a Category 4 after briefly reaching catastrophic Category 5 strength, but forecasters warn it still poses a serious threat to northern Caribbean islands. The storm intensified at record speed, transforming from a tropical storm to a Category 5 in less than a day, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

As of Saturday, Erin was packing sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) while moving westward just north of Puerto Rico. Though the eye of the storm is expected to remain offshore, tropical storm watches were issued for St. Martin, St. Barts, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Authorities warned of possible flash floods, landslides, and powerful rip currents.

In San Juan, daily life appeared largely undisturbed despite the looming threat, with restaurants and shops open, and some tourists even venturing to the beach. Still, local officials inspected hundreds of shelters and the U.S. government deployed emergency response teams as a precaution. In the Bahamas, disaster authorities prepared public shelters, urging residents to remain alert as the storm could shift course.

Meteorologists noted that Erin is unusually powerful for this time of year, becoming one of only a handful of Category 5 hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic before mid-August. Experts link the storm’s rapid intensification to warmer ocean waters driven by climate change, which they say are fueling stronger and wetter hurricanes.

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Though Erin is expected to weaken gradually in the coming days, it is forecast to remain a major hurricane into next week, with forecasters cautioning that dangerous surf could impact the U.S. East Coast despite the system staying well offshore.