Hurricane Erin Weakens to Category 3, Threatens Caribbean with Floods

UPDATE: Hurricane Erin has weakened to a Category 3 storm as of Sunday morning, but its impact is still being felt across the Caribbean. The storm’s outer bands are currently lashing the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with heavy rains and tropical-storm force winds, prompting urgent warnings for residents and travelers.

The National Weather Service has issued tropical storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch for the southeast Bahamas. While Erin is not expected to directly hit the U.S. East Coast, its expansion—doubling or tripling in size—could create dangerous rip currents along the Southeast coast. Authorities warn that gusty winds and flooding tides could wash out parts of the highway connecting the North Carolina Outer Banks by midweek.

Erin, which reached Category 5 status on Saturday with maximum winds of 160 mph (260 kph), has seen its winds decrease to 125 mph (205 kph) as of late Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm’s center is located approximately 170 miles (270 kilometers) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph).

The storm has already left around 147,000 customers without power in Puerto Rico, according to Luma Energy, a private power transmission company. The severe weather has also led to the cancellation of more than 20 flights across the region.

Forecasters predict 3 to 6 inches (about 7.6 to 15 centimeters) of rain will fall across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 8 inches (20 centimeters). The Bahamas government has reacted by issuing a tropical storm watch for the southeast region.

The situation remains dynamic, with Richard Pasch from the National Hurricane Center stating, “You’re dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It’s a dangerous hurricane in any event.”

As Erin is expected to turn northward in the coming days, residents in Bermuda should also prepare for potentially hazardous conditions. Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of storms like Erin to climate change, with warmer oceans fueling more powerful hurricanes.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops. Authorities urge all residents and travelers in affected areas to exercise caution and remain informed about changing weather conditions.