Hurricane Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season Friday (Aug. 15) morning, strengthening as it moves toward the northeast Caribbean and prompting tropical storm watches for parts of the northern Leeward Islands.

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a powerful hurricane and could bring heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous surf to the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend. AccuWeather meteorologists say a turn toward the west-northwest is likely before Erin reaches the islands.

Erin became a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the center said at 11 a.m. EDT. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Anguilla and Barbuda, Sint Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy and Saba and St. Eustatius in the Caribbean.