The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two disturbances in the Atlantic—the first poised to approach the northern Leeward Islands later this week and the second near the Cabo Verde Islands—while Hurricane Erin, now a Category 3, heads away from the Caribbean.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 cyclone as it stayed safely north of the Caribbean islands over the weekend.

Monster Hurricane Erin is causing cruise disruptions, and bringing a lesser-known hurricane hazard to Bahamas beaches.

Satellite imagery shows lightning flashes as Hurricane Erin passes near the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. Video credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA.

Offshore Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 storm early Sunday, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides.

As the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season begins, there's already a threat of more storms. Here's a closer look at the tropics.

Residents in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos on Monday braced for the Atlantic season's first hurricane, the Category 4 Erin, after it strengthened over the weekend while sweeping past the Caribbean.

The storm will remain a major hurricane through the middle of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center.