Hurricane Erin remains a major hurricane as it passes just to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The storm is expected to maintain its intensity, and possibly strengthen during the next day or two.

Forecasters say Hurricane Erin has exploded into a Category 5 storm in the Atlantic Ocean just north of the Caribbean.

Hurricane Erin exploded in strength and became a major storm in Atlantic waters just north of the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day and bringing heavy rains and high winds to islands in the region.