Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The first Atlantic hurricane of the 2025 season has gained major hurricane status. On Saturday afternoon, Hurricane Erin became a category 5 hurricane that downgraded to a category 4 a few hours later. However, Erin is expected to regain that category 5 status in coming hours.
According to the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA), Hurricane Erin is packing winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts as a category 4. A tropical storm watch has been put into effect for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, Sint Maarten and Turks and Caicos Islands as the system travels north.
“A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 12 hours in the Leeward Islands and in the next 48 hours in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, as well as in the southeastern Bahamas should monitor the progress of Erin,” the NOAA reported.
According to the NOAA, “Erin is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h). A turn towards the west-northwest is expected later tonight with a decrease in forward speed, and a turn towards the north is expected to occur early next week.
“On the forecast track, the center of Erin is expected to move just north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Sunday, and pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas Sunday night and Monday.
“Recent data from both the NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters indicate that maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts. Erin is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are expected over the next couple of days due to inner-core structural changes.”
The NOAA says Hurricane Erin is undergoing an eyewall replacement, a natural process where an outer ring of thunderstorms of a major hurricane replaces the inner ring. It is a cycle that often occurs in major hurricanes as they weaken before re-intensifying.
Hurricane Erin is forecast to regain category 5 status in the coming hours as it continues it trek across the Atlantic while also increasing in size. Currently, Erin is a compact storm, however, it is expected to double and possibly triple in size as it moves north.
Metrologists say Erin will not have to make landfall to have an impact on the U.S. or Bermuda as the hurricane passes between the two. Due to its anticipated size, heavy rain and large sea swells will be felt as category 5 Hurricane Erin travels the Atlantic.
