hurricane erin weakens to cat. 2
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On August 9, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa.
![2025-08-20 19.45.03 www.weather.gov As the disturbance moved out to sea and toward the Cape Verde Islands the following day, a well-defined low formed, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, with sustained near gale-force winds. On the morning of August 11, the disturbance organized into Tropical Storm Erin, as its sustained winds increased to about 45 mph (75 km/h). Erin moved quickly to the west after forming, where it encountered a poor thermodynamic environment which inhibited additional development. Erin was unable to become noticeably better organized on August 12 and deep convection decreased during the morning. Though the conditions around the storm were again only marginally conducive on August 13, the convection became more concentrated near its center, and Erin strengthened slightly that afternoon. Due to persistent dry air entrainment, the storm continued to struggle the following day with establishing an inner core, and convection diminished somewhat over the low-level center late that day. Nonetheless, Erin was able to attain hurricane strength on the morning of August 15. Later that day, its structure improved dramatically, and the hurricane intensified to Category 2 strength. On August 16, while moving to the west-northwest at about 20 mph (31 km/h), Erin rapidly intensified to Category 4 strength by 09:50 UTC that morning.[87] Next, at 15:20 UTC, Air Force Hurricane Hunters reported that Erin strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane, attaining maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 915 mbar (27.02 inHg), about 135 mi (220 km) north-northwest of Anguilla. Then, after holding this intensity for much of the day, the storm commenced an eyewall replacement cycle. During the replacement cycle, the system's peak winds decreased to Category 3 strength early on August 17. After the cycle was completed, Erin reintensified to Category 4 early the following morning, with a wider eye, and an expanding wind field. Late that same day, however, the system weakened again to Category 3, as it tracked to the northwest, east of the Bahamas.In Cape Verde, there were nine flooding-related deaths on São Vicente. Between 00:00 to 05:00 local time on August 11, the island recorded 7.57 in (192.3 mm) of rainfall. On account of widespread property and infrastructure damage from the storm, the Cape Verde government issued a disaster declaration for São Vicente and Santo Antão. Five people were reported missing and 1,500 people were displaced.
