Powerful Hurricane Erin has undergone a period of astonishingly rapid intensification — a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms. It was a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday before becoming a Category 4, churning through the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm Saturday, Aug. 16, but winds decreased to 125 mph by Sunday morning, Aug. 17. Erin is still a major Category 3 hurricane and growing in size, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Erin, the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly intensified Friday night, with the storm now reaching Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 160 mph.

Hurricane Erin on Saturday morning exploded into a major Category 5 storm with 160 mph sustained winds before weakening back to a strong Category 4 in the evening, according to the National

The atmospheric conditions came together in a stunning way yesterday to support Hurricane Erin, suddenly blowing up into a Category 5. It was one of the fastest intensifications ever observed, and the second-lowest pressure ever recorded in an August hurricane after Hurricane Allen in 1980.

Palm Beach County shouldn't expect any effects from Hurricane Erin, which formed in the Atlantic on Aug. 15 and rapidly strengthened to a catastrophic Category 5 storm with 160 mph winds on Saturday, Aug. 16, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

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