Powerful Hurricane Erin has undergone astonishingly rapid changes in its intensity — a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms. It quickly became a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday,

Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened to a catastrophic Category 5 storm, packing 160-mph winds on Saturday morning, Aug. 16.

These coastal areas, including New York City beaches, will see dangerous rip currents, high surf, waves that could reach 12 feet, flooding, beach erosion and wind gusts between 20-40 mph.