Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 cyclone as it stayed safely north of the Caribbean islands over the weekend.

The first hurricane of the 2025 season intensified into a Category 5 storm Saturday before reverting back to Category 4 status Saturday night. The storm is forecast to turn north just before the

Hurricane Erin formed Friday and quickly escalated to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph. The current forecast path has the storm remaining far off the East Coast.

Tropical Storm Erin is likely to become Hurricane Erin shortly. It's now tracking over ocean water that's in the low 80s, and the dry and dusty air that has had a stranglehold on the circulation is dissipating.