US braces for Hurricane Erin's wrath: Flooding, landslides expected in Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico amid heavy rainfall

Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane early Sunday, but still remains a formidable major hurricane. A tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands and winds and heavy rains lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Erin has weakened to a category three hurricane as it moves towards the Bahamian Archipelago in the Caribbean.

Erin had max winds of 125 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update. The next update is expected at 8 a.m. ET, according to ABC News. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 status before weakening, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as Erin's outer bands will graze the islands with heavy rain and gusty winds. Tropical storm watches are also in effect for the southeast Bahamas.


Erin is still expected to slow down and begin turning to the north later today through the early work week.

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"Hurricane #Erin Advisory 24A: Erin'S Outer Rainbands Continuing to Produce Gusty Winds And Heavy Rains Across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico," the NHC said in its latest update.


As of the latest update, Erin is located about 140 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or about 330 miles east-south-east of Grand Turk Island. It's moving west-north-west at 14 mph. The outer band of Erin is playing a crucial role in bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Erin is growing in size, with tropical-storm-strength winds extending 205 miles from its centre. Erin’s current weakening is considered temporary, as the storm is expected to strengthen again after finishing its eyewall replacement cycle. These cycles are a natural part of a hurricane’s life, causing brief weakening before re-intensification typically follows.

Heavy rains in Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico

More than 159,000 customers were without power in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Erin on Sunday morning, according to Luma Energy, a private company that oversees the transmission and distribution of power on the island, reports AP.

Swells were also expected to affect portions of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos Islands during the next couple of days, the NHC reported. The government of the Bahamas also issued a tropical storm watch for the Southeast Bahamas.

Flash flood warning issued

According to ABC News, "considerable" flash flood warnings have been issued for the US Virgin Islands. Between 3 to 6 inches of rain are estimated by radar to have fallen over St. John and St. Thomas, and between 2 to 4 inches have been reported for the northern sections of Puerto Rico.

Flood watches will stay in place across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through Monday morning, with outer bands of Erin still drenching the region. Isolated rainfall totals of 6 to 8 inches remain possible—enough to trigger sudden flash floods, dangerous landslides, and mudslides.

Erin will slowly turn north over the next few days thanks to the weakening Bermuda High and a cold front that will sweep through the East Coast to begin the new week. Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.

(With AP inputs)