As of Saturday morning, Erin has become a Category 5 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds are at 160 mph, and the storm is moving west-northwest at 17 mph with a lower pressure down to 917 mb. Erin is encountering warmer ocean water as it moves closer to the northernmost Leeward Islands. Hurricane Hunters are currently investigating the storm.

Heavy rains were forecast to start late Friday in Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and southern and eastern Puerto Rico.