“Erin is now a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane,” the NHC announced earlier Saturday, denoting highly dangerous storms with sustained windspeeds above above 157 mph.

Hurricane Erin is rapidly intensifying as it tracks above the northeastern Caribbean Saturday, churning up rough surf and sending rain and gusty winds to islands south of its path.

It was forecast to bring potential for flooding rains to parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands this weekend.