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.

Erin became a Category 3 hurricane in the Caribbean early Saturday and is expected to strengthen further during the day, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported.

The Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flash flooding, landslides and mudslides.