Erin strengthens to Category 5 hurricane
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It continues to push toward the northern Leeward Islands, where tropical storm watches are now in effect as of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Intensification is expected as Erin moves toward warmer ocean temperatures over the next several days.
The NHC said it currently expected Erin to become a Category 4 storm later Saturday but to eventually swerve away from the continental United States.
Erin rapidly intensified into a major hurricane overnight. While Erin is forecast to remain well east of Florida, there will be coastal impacts as incoming large swells arrive next week and produce a HIGH risk of rip currents,