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.

An eyewall replacement cycle is underway within Hurricane Erin as the monster storm continues to barrel across the Atlantic while bringing gusty winds and rain to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands after rapidly intensifying into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane over the weekend.

Hurricane Erin has strengthened into a Category 2 storm as it approaches Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, bringing heavy rains that could cause flooding and landslides.

Erin, the first hurricane of the season, is now a powerful Category 5 hurricane. Here's where it could head in the week ahead.

Implications for the Leeward Islands: Residents and visitors in St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands should monitor this system throughout the week. Even if the wave remains weak, increased moisture could bring showers, gusty winds and higher seas toward the end of the week.

While the compact hurricane's center wasn't expected to strike land, it threatened to dump flooding rains on the northeast Caribbean as it continued to grow larger.

It quickly powered up from a tropical storm to a Category 5 in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.

Homeland Security Investigations in Puerto Rico reports significant reduction in smuggling load, higher fentanyl presence following enhanced enforcement and new funding under Trump.

As preparations for its official debut continue, the Star of the Seas recently arrived at the port of Ponce for a technical call. After crossing the Atlantic for the first time, the Royal Caribbean International vessel docked at the Puerto Rican port on August 4,

Tropical Storm Erin on Tuesday continued to push west through the Atlantic as the National Hurricane Center forecasted it to become a major hurricane with Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands in its potential path.