Hurricane Erin rapidly exploded from a Category 2 storm to a massive Category 5 overnight before weakening gradually to a Category 3 by early Sunday morning.
The storm is on track to curve north between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Early Sunday, the major hurricane was about 140 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the hurricane center. It was heading west-northwest at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.
Those in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the southeastern and central Bahamas should monitor the storm, the hurricane center said.
Erin will generate large, powerful waves that were forecast to affect Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands, according to the hurricane center.
Power was out for about 130,000 utility customers in Puerto Rico on Saturday night, and the National Weather Service office in San Juan issued an alert for nearly two-thirds of the island, predicting 50 mph winds and urging people to shelter in safe structures.
A U.S. buoy 170 nautical miles north-northeast of San Juan measured waves as high as 27 feet Saturday night, according to National Data Buoy Center data.
Erin will pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday night and Monday, and is expected to turn north on Monday and Tuesday, the hurricane center said.
No landfall forecasted
It will remain a major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — through midweek.
“Fluctuations in intensity are expected over the next day or two due to inner-core structural changes,” the hurricane center said in an update at 2 a.m. Sunday.
The storm is not forecast to hit land, but its strong winds are impacting nearby islands, prompting warnings of possible flooding and landslides.
The hurricane center also warned that life-threatening surf and rip currents could hit the Bahamas, the East Coast of the U.S. and Atlantic Canada next week.
“These rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the center said.
Watches in effect
There are tropical storm watches in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to the hurricane center.
In Sint Maarten, the Dutch half of St. Martin, there is a tropical storm watch and a flood advisory, according to the country’s government.
The Virgin Islands also have a flood watch in effect through Monday evening, according to the Government…
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