SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The National Hurricane Center reported on Saturday that Erin has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane while moving through the Caribbean.
At the moment, Erin is located about 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Anguilla, boasting maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and moving west-northwest at 20 mph (31 kph).
While it’s not expected to make direct landfall, the storm’s strong winds are impacting nearby islands, prompting forecasters to issue warnings about possible flooding and landslides. The NHC mentioned it will ultimately pass the U.S.
St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Sint Maarten are under tropical storm watches. Forecasts suggest a maximum of 4 inches (10 cm) of rainfall, potentially totaling up to 6 inches (15 cm), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
“We’re likely to see urban flooding and landslides in some areas,” the NHC noted.
Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry indicated that Erin is anticipated to make a sharp turn to the northeast.
“Current predictions indicate that Erin will move safely east of the U.S. by next week, although it could pose a closer risk to Bermuda, especially if it remains stronger on the eastern side,” he explained.
Erin marks the fifth named storm of the Atlantic season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, and it’s the first to reach hurricane classification.
As it navigates through exceptionally warm waters in the open Atlantic, Erin is expected to intensify into a formidable Category 4 hurricane. The surface temperatures are reportedly several degrees above the historical norms.
This hurricane season is predicted to be quite busy again, with expectations of 6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 of them potentially reaching hurricane strength with winds over 110 mph (177 kph).
In response to these threats, the U.S. government has positioned more than 200 personnel from FEMA and other agencies in Puerto Rico as forecasters issue flood warnings across the territory from Friday through Monday.
Puerto Rico’s Housing Secretary Ciary Pérez Peña mentioned that 367 shelters are being reviewed and will be activated if circumstances require.
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the closure of six ports in Puerto Rico, with two ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands also closing to incoming vessels unless they obtained prior clearance.
Over in the Bahamas, officials are preparing public shelters and advising residents to stay informed as they track the hurricane. Aaron Sargent, managing director of the Bahamas Disaster Risk Management Agency, cautioned, “These storms are notoriously unpredictable and may suddenly change direction.”
