Hurricane Erin remains dangerous

Hurricane Erin weakens to Category 3 but remains a major hazard for Caribbean islands and the U.S. East Coast as it moves west-northwest.

Hurricane Erin Dips to Category 3 as Storm Threatens Caribbean and East Coast

Erin weakened to a Category 3 hurricane overnight with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. It sits about 170 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving west-northwest at about 14 mph. Outer bands are bringing heavy rain to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with flash flood warnings in effect and rainfall totals climbing in some areas.

The storm is expected to slow and turn north later this week as the Bermuda High weakens and a cold front approaches the East Coast. Forecast models remain in agreement that direct impacts on the continental United States will be limited, but dangerous surf and rip currents will affect from Florida to New England. Waves of 8 to 12 feet could erode beaches and threaten coastal properties from the Carolinas to the Northeast.

Erin’s fluctuations show how a storm can ease one day and surge again the next. The article notes a typical pattern of a temporary weakening followed by re‑intensification after an eyewall replacement cycle, a reminder that forecasts are evolving maps rather than fixed truths. For officials, that means staying ready even when headlines suggest a lull.

Beyond the weather charts, Erin highlights the cost of coastal risk. Communities must translate warnings into practical protections for homes and beaches. As climate variability grows, the challenge is turning forecast uncertainty into clear actions that protect lives and livelihoods.

Highlights

Forecasts shape actions on the ground as Erin moves along this week.