Aug 16 (Reuters) - Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, could become a Category 5 hurricane, with additional strengthening expected this afternoon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Saturday.

Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season on Friday, with sustained winds of 75 mph as it moves toward the Leeward Islands.

The storm is about 150 miles northeast of Anguilla with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. It is moving west-northwest at 20 mph and is not expected to hit land, although strong winds are affecting nearby islands.

Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the season Friday morning, and is expected to develop into a major Category 3 storm this weekend then intensify further as it passes to the north of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic,

Tropical Storm Erin is on track to begin strengthening in the next day or so, likely to hurricane status as soon as Friday. The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast keeps the storm north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,