Hurricane Erin\u00a0strengthened\u00a0into a category 4\u00a0hurricane, the US\u00a0National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Saturdauy.<\/p>\n
Erin is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Anguilla with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215\u00a0kmph), as the NHC\u00a0warned of\u00a0possible flooding and landslides<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tropical storm watches have been\u00a0issued for Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Martin, St. Barts, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten while heavy rains are expected\u00a0in Antigua and Barbuda, the US\u00a0and British Virgin Islands and southern and eastern Puerto Rico. Up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain is\u00a0anticipated, with isolated totals of up to 6 inches (15 centimeters), according to the NHC.<\/p>\n The NHC\u00a0also highlighted the threat\u00a0of dangerous swells but said the possibility\u00a0of direct impacts in the Bahamas and along the east coast of the United States<\/a> “appears to be gradually decreasing.”<\/p>\n In which direction is Hurricane Erin headed?<\/p>\n Hurricane expert Michael Lowry said Erin\u00a0is forecast to eventually take a sharp turn northeast that would put it on a route\u00a0between the US\u00a0and Bermuda.<\/p>\n “All of our best consensus aids show Erin turning safely east of the United States next week, but it’ll be a much closer call for Bermuda, which could land on the stronger eastern side of Erin,” he said.<\/p>\n Erin is the Atlantic season’s first hurricane and\u00a0is expected\u00a0to become a major Category 3 storm late this weekend, passing\u00a0around\u00a0200 miles north of Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n Are natural disasters driving up the price of insurance?<\/p>\n