Hurricane Erin, the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly intensified Friday night, with the storm now reaching Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 160 mph.

Hurricane Erin on Wednesday grew in size as it made its way up into the Atlantic off the U.S. East Coast with tropical-storm conditions forecast to hit North Carolina and dangerous surf left

Hurricane Erin will continue to strengthen as it approaches the Leeward Island and Puerto Rico, where it will threaten with tropical downpours, pounding surf and strong winds.

Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season Friday (Aug. 15) morning, strengthening as it moves toward the northeast Caribbean and prompting tropical storm watches for parts of the northern Leeward Islands.

Erin, the first hurricane of the season, is now a powerful Category 5 hurricane. Here's where it could head in the week ahead.

The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.

A new system has emerged in the eastern tropical Atlantic, heading westward toward the Leeward Islands as Hurricane Erin continues to spin.

A weakening Hurricane Erin is moving closer towards Bermuda as weather officials are keeping an eye on the two weather patterns that could  affect the region over the next seven days. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Erin is an estimated 555 miles west south west of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour (mph).

A tropical wave nearing the Leeward Islands has a 60% chance of becoming a depression by weekend, while Invest 99L off Africa holds a 40% chance as it ventures west—plants for likely storm names Fernand and Gabrielle.

Implications for the Leeward Islands: Residents and visitors in St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands should monitor this system throughout the week. Even if the wave remains weak, increased moisture could bring showers, gusty winds and higher seas toward the end of the week.

By Samuel Peters Following up on their head turning performance last week against Jamaica, the Leeward Islands Under-17s produced another commanding all-roun