Hurricane Erin Weakens to Category 3, Impacting the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Hurricane Erin Weakens but Remains a Threat as It Affects the Caribbean

October 1, 2025 – The Caribbean

Hurricane Erin has weakened to a Category 3 storm as of Sunday, but its outer bands continue to unleash heavy rains and tropical-storm force winds across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. While the maximum winds have diminished, the storm’s overall size has increased, prompting forecasters to issue tropical storm warnings for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch for the southeast Bahamas.

Despite not being expected to directly impact the U.S. East Coast, Erin’s expansion could lead to dangerous rip currents along the shoreline. The National Weather Service has warned that gusty winds and flooding tides could wash out parts of the highway connecting the North Carolina Outer Banks by midweek.

As Erin shifts its trajectory north and northeast, Bermuda may also experience similar conditions. The storm, which reached Category 5 status on Saturday with maximum winds of 160 mph (260 kph), has now sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) as of late Sunday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“You’re dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It’s a dangerous hurricane in any event,” cautioned Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center. Currently, Erin’s center is located approximately 235 miles (380 kilometers) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 200 miles (320 kilometers) east of Grand Turk Island, moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).

The storm’s impact has already been felt in Puerto Rico, where about 147,000 customers lost power due to the winds and rain, according to Luma Energy, the private company managing the island’s power distribution. Additionally, over 20 flights were canceled as a result of the severe weather.

Forecasters predict that swells will continue to affect parts of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next few days. However, the Coast Guard has reopened all ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as conditions begin to improve.

A tropical storm warning indicates that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area, typically within 24 hours. Heavy rainfall is anticipated across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with totals ranging from 3 to 6 inches (about 7.6 to 15 centimeters), and isolated areas could see up to 8 inches (20 centimeters).

In light of the storm’s rapid intensification, scientists have pointed to climate change as a contributing factor. Warmer ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric water vapor are believed to fuel hurricanes, enabling them to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.

As Hurricane Erin continues its path, residents in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for changing conditions.