Hurricane Erin regained Category 4 strength late Sunday, churning north of the Caribbean with sustained winds of 130 mph and threatening to expand further in size as it moves toward the western Atlantic.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm re-intensified after completing an eyewall replacement cycle, a process that often precedes a strengthening phase. Erin had briefly weakened to Category 3 earlier Sunday but is again classified as a major hurricane as it tracks northwest at about 12 mph. Forecasters expect some additional strengthening in the next 12 hours, followed by gradual weakening, but caution that Erin will remain a large and dangerous system through midweek.
The storm, located roughly 130 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island late Sunday, continued to send powerful outer rainbands across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. More than 50,000 customers lost electricity in Puerto Rico at the height of the storm, though grid operator Luma Energy reported that service had been restored to more than 95 percent of households by Sunday evening. Outages remained concentrated in San Juan, Caguas, and Mayagüez.
The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for numerous Puerto Rico beaches, warning of waves reaching 7 to 13 feet through Monday morning. A small craft advisory remains in effect for waters surrounding the island and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including St. Croix, where two divers were swept out by rough surf Sunday before being rescued by local crews. Offshore buoys recorded wave heights exceeding 28 feet east of the Bahamas.
Erin, which reached Category 5 strength earlier in the weekend, is also expected to generate hazardous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast as the week progresses. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are under close watch for midweek impacts.
While the storm is not currently forecast to make landfall in the Caribbean, its size and intensity are already disrupting life across the region. Emergency officials urge residents along the storm’s path to remain vigilant as Erin maintains its grip on Atlantic waters.
Source: The Weather Channel