Hurricane Erin has intensified into a Category 4 storm, posing serious threats of life-threatening surf and rip currents along the eastern coast of the United States.
The storm’s heavy rains have already begun impacting the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where a tropical storm warning remains in effect.
Although Erin is not expected to make landfall on the islands, it could bring up to six inches (15.2 cm) of rainfall to both the Turks and Caicos and the eastern Bahamas.
Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, “explosively deepened and intensified” into a Category 5 storm on Saturday before briefly weakening. The hurricane has now regained strength.
As of 20:00 local time on Monday (01:00 BST Tuesday), Erin was moving east of the Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h).
In the Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory, authorities have suspended public services on the largest island and advised residents in vulnerable areas to prepare for potential evacuation.
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BBC Weather’s lead presenter Helen Willetts described Hurricane Erin as “a major storm.”
She added, “Although at this stage it’s not expected to make a direct hit to land, it will bring considerable amounts of rain, leading to flash flooding, coastal flooding from storm surge, wind damage and dangerous rip currents.”
Heavy rainfall has already been recorded elsewhere in the Caribbean, with Puerto Rico seeing 82 mm in 24 hours and Anguilla 62.3 mm.
Over 150,000 people in Puerto Rico were left without power after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.
The firm reported that emergency repairs restored electricity to 95% of customers by Sunday evening local time.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Erin’s outer rain bands are affecting the Bahamas.
While a direct hit is unlikely, the country’s Disaster Risk Management Authority has urged residents to prepare, check the nearest shelters, and identify alternative locations in case primary shelters are full.
Its managing director, Aarone Sargent, said, “These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement.”
The NHC forecasts that Erin’s core will pass east of the southeastern Bahamas today before tracking between Bermuda and the US East Coast by midweek, remaining “a large and dangerous hurricane” throughout.
Meanwhile, the Outer Banks of North Carolina are preparing for strong winds and heavy surf.
Authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, warning that the main highway connecting the island could become impassable. Forecasters have also cautioned about dangerous rip tides along the entire US East Coast.