Hurricane Erin dazzled forecasters over the weekend, putting on a spectacular show of strength rarely observed, becoming only the 43rd Atlantic-basin Category 5 hurricane on record and tying Camille in 1969 for the 4th earliest-forming Category 5 ever recorded.

The Atlantic’s first hurricane of 2025 wasted no time making history. Hurricane Erin will be remembered as one of the fastest-strengthening Atlantic hurricanes on record, with perhaps the fastest intensification rate for any storm earlier than September 1, CNN reports.

Hurricane Erin formed early Friday, Aug. 15, marking the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Here's what to expect in NC.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified into a ‘catastrophic’ Category 5 storm over the open Atlantic Ocean on Saturday. The storm achieved its scale-topping status just 24 hours after it first grew into a hurricane, and it maintained peak intensity for about nine hours.

Hurricane Erin has strengthened back into a Category 4 hurricane as of Monday morning. Over the weekend, Erin underwent a process called rapid intensification, causing it to go from a category 1 hurricane to a category 5 hurricane within a roughly 24 hours.

Though Hurricane Erin is not forecast to make landfall on the U.S., the storm’s rapid intensification has prompted increased measures in North Carolina.

Forecasters said Erin should begin to slowly weaken as it increased wind shear. However, it's predicted to remain a major hurricane until late next week.

Hurricane Erin raced from a Category 1 to a Category 5 storm. If Erin keeps ramping up, is there a Category 6?

U.S. shores are unlikely to see a direct hit, but a strong offshore hurricane can produce massive and dangerous waves well away from its center.