approaching storm, Hurricane Erin, poses flood threat for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands; forecasts predict intensification into a significant Category 3 hurricane by weekend.
Hurricane Erin, the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly intensified and approached the northeast Caribbean. As of August 20, the hurricane was located about 835km (520 miles) east of the Northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 28km/h (17mph) with maximum sustained winds of 110km/h (70mph).
Forecasters predicted up to 10cm (four inches) of rain, with isolated totals of up to 15cm (six inches), for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They also warned of dangerous swells, possible flooding, and landslides in these regions. However, Erin did not make a direct hit, instead passing offshore.
The storm's outer bands brought heavy rain and strong winds to nearby islands, including the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. In Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, while hazardous conditions were reported, no direct landfall or catastrophic damage was recorded.
As Erin moved northward, it was steered away from the U.S. East Coast by a high-pressure system and pushed offshore by a cold front. It passed between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, then south of Atlantic Canada. The hurricane was forecast to weaken and become post-tropical by Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Alex DaSilva, Accuweather's lead hurricane expert, stated that Erin was expected to move over very warm waters in the open Atlantic. Heavy rains were forecast to start late on Friday in Antigua and Barbuda, the US and British Virgin Islands, and southern and eastern Puerto Rico.
Despite Erin's offshore trajectory, the hurricane centre noted that 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. This year's Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be unusually busy and potentially perilous.
[References] 1. ABC News 2. The Washington Post 3. AccuWeather 4. The Weather Channel
- The unexpected trajectory of Hurricane Erin has raised concerns in politics, as coastal communities prepare for potential impacts on the long range.
- As the Atlantic hurricane season of 2025 progresses, the ongoing threat of storms such as Hurricane Erin has underscored the need for increased preparation and readiness, even in the midst of other international conflicts or war zones.
