Powerful Hurricane Erin has undergone astonishingly rapid changes in its intensity β a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms.
It quickly became a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday, before weakening and becoming a larger system on Sunday as it churns through the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean.
Erin went from a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds at 11 a.m. Friday to a Category 5 with near 160 mph winds just over 24 hours later. It put Erin in the history books as one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record, and potentially the fastest intensification rate for any storm earlier than September 1.
Erin was still βa formidable Category 4 hurricaneβ late Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said. By 2 a.m ET Sunday, it had weakened further to a Category 3 hurricane while becoming a larger system, the Center said.
The last 12 hours of Major Hurricane Erin.
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) August 17, 2025
One of the fastest-intensifying hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, and also one of the earliest Category 5s on record in the basin.
Mesmerizing storm to watch from space. pic.twitter.com/OEFKH6J53T
