Heavy rains expected in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands as Hurricane Erin nears


Lisa Bucci, Hurricane Specialist, works close to screens displaying Tropical Storm Erin as they proceed to trace its progress on August 13, 2025 on the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Erin strengthened right into a hurricane on Friday as it approached the northeast Caribbean, prompting forecasters to warn of potential flooding and landslides.

The storm is expected to stay over open waters, though tropical storm watches have been issued for Anguilla and Barbuda, St. Martin and St. Barts, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

Heavy rains have been forecast to begin late Friday in Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and southern and japanese Puerto Rico. Up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) are expected, with remoted totals of as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters), in accordance with the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Forecasters additionally warned of harmful swells.

An infographic titled “Tropical Storm Erin” created in Ankara, Turkiye on August 15, 2025.

Yasin Demirci | Anadolu | Getty Images

The storm was situated about 460 miles (740 kilometers) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. It had most sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was shifting west-northwest at 18 mph (30 kph).

Hurricane specialist and storm surge professional Michael Lowry mentioned Erin is forecast to ultimately take a pointy flip northeast that might put it on a path between the U.S. and Bermuda.

“The forecasts for next week still keep the future hurricane safely east of the mainland U.S.,” he mentioned.

Erin, which is the Atlantic season’s first hurricane, is forecast to turn out to be a significant Category 3 storm late this weekend.

The hurricane heart famous “there is still uncertainty about what impacts Erin may bring to portions of the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda in the long range.”

Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center, seems to be at a display screen displaying paths that Tropical Storm Erin might take as they proceed to trace its progress on the National Hurricane Center on August 13, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to have an effect on the U.S. East Coast subsequent week, with waves reaching as much as 15 toes (5 meters) alongside elements of the North Carolina coast that might trigger seaside erosion, in accordance with Accuweather.

“Erin is forecast to explode into a powerful Category 4 hurricane as it moves across very warm waters in the open Atlantic. Water temperatures at the surface and hundreds of feet deep are several degrees higher than the historical average,” mentioned Alex DaSilva, Accuweather’s lead hurricane professional.

Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

This 12 months’s season is as soon as once more expected to be unusually busy. The forecast requires six to 10 hurricanes, with three to 5 reaching main standing with winds of greater than 110 mph (177 kph).