MIAMI (AP) — A stronger and bigger Hurricane Erin pelted parts of the Caribbean and was forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week.

Forecasters said Erin should begin to slowly weaken as it increased wind shear. However, it's predicted to remain a major hurricane until late next week.

After exploding in strength at a historic rate this weekend, Hurricane Erin is now a sprawling Category 4 storm churning in the Atlantic. The storm’s enormous footprint is becoming the biggest concern as it threatens to drive life-threatening rip currents and towering waves toward the eastern US coastline and Bermuda.

After much speculation and many rounds of overhyped ghost storms going viral on social media, the Atlantic has its first hurricane of the year: Erin. Erin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph on Friday evening and is more than 300 miles east of the northeastern Caribbean's Leeward Islands,