By Belize Live News Staff: Hurricane Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, rapidly exploded in strength this weekend, reaching Category 5 status before weakening slightly to a Category 4 storm late Saturday night.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Erin packed maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) as it churned through the Atlantic north of the Caribbean. The storm’s center was located about 145 miles north-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving west-northwest at 14 mph.
While the storm’s outer bands brought heavy rains, high winds, and flooding risks to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, forecasters emphasize that Erin poses no threat to Belize.
NHC Director Mike Brennan said Erin’s rapid intensification was “incredible,” with winds gaining 60 mph in just nine hours. Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry noted that only four other Category 5 storms have ever been recorded in the Atlantic this early in the season.
Despite not making landfall, Erin caused significant impacts, including power outages to more than 130,000 customers in Puerto Rico. The U.S. government deployed FEMA personnel as a precaution, while shelters across Puerto Rico and the Bahamas were placed on standby.
Forecasters warn the storm will remain powerful in the coming days, though its eye is expected to stay far offshore. Rip currents could affect parts of the U.S. East Coast next week.
