Erin is expected to intensify into a major hurricane by Saturday.

Hurricane Erin in the western Atlantic has become a major hurricane within 24 hours of being just a tropical storm.

Hurricane Erin exploded in strength and became a major storm in Atlantic waters just north of the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day.

Forecasters said while the threat of direct impacts in the Bahamas and along the east coast of the United States appears to be gradually decreasing, there will still be a "significant risk of dangerou...

BEAUMONT, Texas — Tropical Storm Erin is moving quickly westward across the Atlantic Ocean and could strengthen into a hurricane by late Thursday, prompting the National Hurricane Center to advise residents of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to monitor the storm's progress.

As of 2 p.m. on Sunday, Hurricane Erin has weakened back to a Category 3 storm but has grown larger, the National Hurricane Center said.

Erin is expected to pass north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend, bringing up to 6in (15cm) of rain, with the potential for flash flooding and mudslides.