Hurricane Erin has weakened from a Category 5 to a Category 3 storm but remains a serious threat across the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported sustained winds of 125 mph as the system moved northwest on Sunday. While the storm is not expected to make landfall in the United States, its size means coastal areas along the East Coast could experience strong winds, dangerous surf, and flooding in the coming days.

Forecasters warned that Erin’s hazards extend far beyond its center, with hurricane-force winds reaching 50 miles outward and tropical-storm-force winds stretching more than 200 miles. Heavy rainfall is already affecting Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos, and parts of the Bahamas, with up to six inches expected in some areas. Officials cautioned that flash flooding and landslides remain possible in mountainous regions.

Large waves generated by Erin are spreading across the Caribbean and will reach Bermuda, Atlantic Canada, and much of the U.S. East Coast this week. Meteorologists say the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Long Island, and Cape Cod are among the areas most at risk of beach erosion, dangerous rip currents, and minor coastal flooding. Even communities far inland may see breezy conditions and unsettled weather.