The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and Hurricane Erin has become the latest major threat. Initially a Category 1 with winds of 75 mph, it rapidly intensified into a rare Category 5 within 24 hours, CNN reports. Only 43 Category 5 hurricanes have ever been recorded in the Atlantic.

According to the National Weather Service, Category 5 storms bring “catastrophic damage,” warning that “most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.” Power outages could last the same length of time.

The National Hurricane Center issued an urgent alert: “Erin is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the beaches of the Bahamas, much of the east coast of the US, and Atlantic Canada next week.”

AccuWeather’s Alex DaSilva explained, “Erin is forecast to slowly curve to the north… Beaches along the entire East Coast… will likely experience rough surf and dangerous rip currents.” Coastal areas like North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Long Island, and Cape Cod are most at risk.

Though Erin briefly weakened to Category 3, it may regain Category 5 strength. NOAA predicts an “above average” season with 13 to 19 named storms in 2025.