Hurricane Erin strengthened into a fearsome Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph for much of the day on Aug. 16 as it traveled west just north of the Virgin Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Erin is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year, and meteorologists are closely tracking its path and forecast.

Hurricane Erin weakened slightly Saturday night but is still a formidable Category 4 storm north of Puerto Rico. The 11 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center now has Erin with winds of 140 mph,