Hurricane Erin weakens but expected to remain major storm along East Coast

ORLANDO, Fla. - Hurricane Erin, which briefly intensified into a Category 5 storm Saturday morning, weakened to a Category 3 by the evening as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle in the Atlantic, forecasters said.

Hurricane Erin: To hold Category 3–4 strength as it moves up U.S. East Coast

What we know:

As of 2 p.m., Erin was producing sustained winds near 125 mph while moving on a west-northwest track, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical storm watches were issued for parts of the Leeward Islands between St. Lucia and Puerto Rico, where officials are warning of dangerous surf and rip currents. Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands are already bracing for hazardous conditions.

Erin is expected to maintain major hurricane strength — Category 3 or 4 — as it tracks up the East Coast of the United States in the coming days. While Florida is not expected to experience direct impacts, forecasters warn the state’s east coast will see dangerous waves and rip currents from Sunday through Wednesday.

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NHC monitoring 2 additional systems

What to Expect:

Meanwhile, the hurricane center is monitoring two additional systems.

System 1:

A tropical wave in the central Atlantic has a 30% chance of developing over the next week as it moves westward from Africa.

System 2:

Another cluster of storms off the Carolina coast has just a 10% chance of development, with forecasters noting unfavorable wind shear and cooler waters ahead.