Hurricane Erin intensified into a Category 1 storm on Friday as it moved across the Atlantic Ocean, marking the first hurricane of the Atlantic season in 2025.
Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that the storm could potentially strengthen into a major hurricane, which is categorized by sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
As of Friday afternoon, Hurricane Erin was positioned approximately 415 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, traveling west-northwest at 17 mph. Winds had reached maximum sustained speeds of 75 mph.
Meteorologists have urged residents in the Caribbean islands to keep a close eye on Erin’s trajectory, emphasizing the risks of heavy rainfall and hazardous surf and rip current conditions.
Although current forecasts do not predict that Erin will affect the United States, monitoring of the storm’s path remains ongoing.
Forecasters expect Erin’s trajectory to shift northward, with projections indicating the hurricane will skim past the northern Leewards on Saturday. This area includes islands from the Virgin Islands to Guadeloupe, such as St. Martin and St. Barts.
In anticipation of the storm, officials have issued tropical storm watches for several islands, warning residents of possible winds ranging from 39 mph to 73 mph.
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