Hurricane Erin downgraded to Category 3 but still powerful: Live updates

Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first to reach hurricane status. The core of Erin is expected to pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight and Monday. Hurricane Erin, which had exploded into a Category 5 powerhouse just a day ago, was downgraded to a Category 3 storm Aug. 17, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm, still driving dangerous, 125 mph winds, was centered about 170 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8 a.m. ET, the NHC said. Just a day earlier Erin's sustained winds had reached 160 mph.