Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane early Sunday, as a tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The storm has already begun to impact the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with strong winds and heavy rainfall. Erin, which marked the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, initially reached Category 5 status before experiencing a decline, with maximum sustained winds currently recorded at 125 mph (205 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.
As of now, the center of Hurricane Erin is approximately 155 miles (245 kilometers) north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and nearly 300 miles (500 kilometers) east of Grand Turk Island. The storm is moving west-northwest at a speed of 14 mph (22 kph). The NHC has indicated that a tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are anticipated within the warning area, specifically within the next 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall is still expected across both the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with forecasts predicting rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches (about 7.6 to 15 cms) in most areas. In isolated regions, rainfall could reach up to 8 inches (20 cms). Due to the effects of Hurricane Erin, over 159,000 customers in Puerto Rico were reported to be without power on Sunday morning, according to Luma Energy, the private company responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity on the island.
The NHC has also warned that swells generated by Hurricane Erin are expected to impact parts of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next few days. Additionally, the government of the Bahamas has issued a tropical storm watch for the Southeast Bahamas as a precautionary measure.
Scientists have increasingly linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. The ongoing effects of global warming are causing the atmosphere to retain more water vapor, which, combined with rising ocean temperatures, provides hurricanes with the fuel they need to unleash greater amounts of rainfall and strengthen at a faster pace.
As Hurricane Erin continues to move through the Atlantic, residents in affected areas are urged to stay updated on the latest forecasts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
