Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 3 hurricane, is moving west-northwest and is expected to turn north on Monday and Tuesday.

Powerful rip currents could affect the US East Coast from Florida to the mid-Atlantic next week, despite the eye forecast to remain far offshore.