TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – As of 5:50am on Saturday, Hurricane Erin has become more resistant to Category 4 storms, the NHC said.
Erin is rapidly strengthening and is expected to continue doing so. The NHC upgraded the storm strength from Category 3 to Category 4 in a special update at 5:50am on Saturday.
It is currently a small island that is part of the Antilles, about 170 miles northeast of Anguilla, moving west-northwest at 20 mph.
Tropical storms are currently in effect at St. Martin, St. Barthelmee and Sintmarten, and the NHC said that tropical storm conditions are possible for the next 12 hours. The rain zones outside the storm are already affecting the Northern Leeward Islands.
With maximum sustained winds at 120 mph, Erin sits in the middle of Category 3 wind speed range. This is from 111 mph to 129 mph. The NHC said the winds from Hurricane Force are 30 miles away from the center of the storm, with tropical storms reaching 125 miles.
The band outside the storm continues to hit the Northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico until Sunday, bringing 2-6 inches of rain.
The swelling produced by Hurricane Erin is expected to spread to the US East Coast early next week, potentially causing a life-threatening RIP current.
The storm is expected to turn north early next week, and we take a quick look at Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico before changing direction.
