Additional strengthening is expected as the storm is forecast to “remain a large and dangerous major hurricane through the middle of this week,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erin is pelting parts of the Caribbean and is forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week.

Residents in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos on Monday braced for the Atlantic season's first hurricane, the Category 4 Erin, after it strengthened over the weekend while sweeping past Caribbean islands.

The first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season is also one of the largest, fastest-growing hurricanes in recorded history

After exploding in strength at a historic rate this weekend, Hurricane Erin is now a sprawling Category 4 storm churning in the Atlantic. The storm’s enormous footprint is becoming the biggest concern as it threatens to drive life-threatening rip currents and towering waves toward the eastern US coastline and Bermuda.

Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic, packing winds of 140 miles per hour and is expected to begin turning north over the next several days and parallel the East Coast. The high surf and rip currents are forecast to ramp up Thursday and Friday as the storm passes the Northeast.

Hurricane Erin briefly strengthened into a Category 5 storm. It is not expected to make a direct hit on the U.S. but will create dangerous surf.

Though Hurricane Erin is expected to continue moving out to sea, the Steamship Authority on Monday released a travel advisory.