Hurricane Erin, the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly intensified Friday night, with the storm now reaching Category 4 strength with sustained winds of 155 mph.

Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 storm. It is not expected to make a direct hit on the U.S. but will create dangerous surf.

Erin, the first hurricane of the season, is now forecast to become a Category 4 by Sunday. Here's where it could head in the week ahead.

The National Hurricane Center expects this storm to gradually strengthen over the next day or so, but also warned of its potential to rapidly intensify within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Forecasters at the US Climate Prediction Center have issued a La Niña watch, meaning that the surface of the Pacific Ocean is poised to cool.

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become a hurricane later today, Aug. 15, and a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph over the weekend. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.