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Hurricane Erin, which was the first major hurricane of the season registering as a Category 5, was downgraded to a Category 4 and later a Category 3 on Sunday (August 17), the National Hurricane Center announced via USA TODAY.
The storm was reported to have winds registered at 125 MPH while centered about 170 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8:00 a.m. local time, having previously reached winds of 160 MPH. Erin remains a hurricane, the first to reach that status and the fifth names storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The forecast track has Erin's core expected to pass the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas on Sunday and Monday (August 18) with life-threatening surf and rip currents. Tropical storm watches were discontinued for St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Sint Maarten by meteorological services of France and the Netherlands.
Shores along the United States aren't expected to be directly hit by Erin, however, a strong offshore hurricane capable of massive and dangerous waves well away from its center is possible, according to AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.
"The storm is forecast to remain hundreds of miles off the East Coast," DaSilva said, adding that "beaches along the entire East Coast, from Florida to New England and Atlantic Canada, will likely experience rough surf and dangerous rip currents as Erin tracks north and eventually northeast."