Erin has become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, with several areas already on alert for heavy rain while strong waves and rip currents are possible along the East Coast of the United States as early as next week.

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,

TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Erin continues to churn over the Atlantic this weekend as a powerful Category 4 storm. Erin weakened slightly from earlier peak intensity, but remains a dangerous hurricane as it moves near the northern Caribbean.

Hurricane Erin formed Friday and quickly escalated to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph. The current forecast path has the storm remaining far off the East Coast.

Hurricane Erin has weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds near 140 mph, according to late-night advisories.

Charley roared ashore near Cayo Costa, Florida, or west of Fort Myers, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph on the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2004. The intensification of Charley prior to landfall was a worst-case scenario since nearly eight hours earlier over the eastern Gulf, it was a Category 2 with 110 mph winds.