Article first published: Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, 10 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 1

System name: Erin

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 10 a.m. Friday advisory, Erin found new strength and had evolved from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph. Category 1 Hurricane Erin is in the Atlantic Ocean, 460 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. With maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the hurricane is moving west-northwest at 18 mph.

“… the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend”, forecasters wrote about the hurricane. They also said “Steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next two to three days, and Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane during the weekend.”

Portions of the northern leeward islands under a tropical storm watch, forecasters report.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Tropical Storm Watch for:

• Anguilla and Barbuda

• St. Martin and St. Barthelemy

• Saba and St. Eustatius

• Sint Maarten

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of Erin.

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall. The outer bands of Erin are expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall tonight into Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated totals of 6 inches, are expected. This rainfall may lead to isolated and locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides.

For a complete forecast of rainfall and flash flooding associated with Erin, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf

Wind. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by early Saturday.

Surf. Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend, and will likely spread to the western Atlantic next week.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ripCurrents

Source: National Hurricane Center