Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph while the outbands pounded the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with gusty winds and heavy rains on Sunday.

Forecasters said uncertainty continues on what impacts Erin could bring to the east coast of Florida and the United States but "the risk of dangerous surf and rip currents across the western Atlantic...