Hurricane Erin is now a Category 5 storm as it rapidly intensified and threatens the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico, then will move along the U.S. East Coast

The first hurricane of the 2025 season is forecast to intensify into a Category 4 storm and turn north just before the U.S. east coast next week.

Erin became the first Atlantic hurricane of the year on Friday morning as it churned toward Caribbean islands. The storm had winds of 75 mph by 11 a.m. Eastern, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was forecast to bring potential for flooding rains to parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands this weekend.