Powerful Hurricane Erin has undergone a period of astonishingly rapid intensification — a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms. It was a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday before becoming a Category 4, churning through the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean.

The August weather might seem ideal for a beach trip, but Hurricane Erin will bring widespread danger in coming days.

Hurricane Erin has rapidly intensified into a rare category five hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h), and expected to gain even more strength.

Hurricane Erin has weakened slightly overnight but remains a very strong storm with winds well over 120 mph, making it still a major hurricane. The track remains mostly unchanged. It will start making that northern turn in the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.