Major hurricane Erin grows in size but forecast track still avoids direct land impact

By Scott Vincent

Aug 17 - (The Insurer) - Hurricane Erin reintensified to Category 4 late on Sunday with the storm's maximum sustained winds rising to 130 mph (209 kph).

In its 11 p.m. AST update (0300 GMT), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Erin's forecast track continues to take it on a path between the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bermuda.

This will keep the storm offshore, limiting any impacts on land.

However, the NHC warned there was a risk of strong winds associated with Erin's outer rainbands affecting the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bermuda during the middle part of the week.

Erin had rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane on Saturday as it moved north of the Caribbean, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 mph.

The storm subsequently dropped to Category 3 intensity but substantially increased its windspan as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle.

The NHC said Erin would likely remain a dangerous major hurricane through the middle of the week.

In a blog post on Friday, BMS meteorologist Andrew Siffert highlighted a potential “gray swan” event where Erin passes offshore along Canada’s Maritime Provinces without delivering significant rainfall.

He said the alignment of dry fuels, a human ignition source and sustained high winds could lead to a significant wildfire outbreak.

Erin is the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to attain hurricane status. The last Atlantic storm to reach Category 5 intensity was Hurricane Milton in October last year.