Hurricane Erin further weakened to a Category 3 storm early Sunday morning as it churned over the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami later said the storm is "likely to strengthen again.

Scientists link the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change, with global warming causing more intense storms.

Erin is a strong Category 3 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. ET update Sunday, with sustained winds of 125 mph and tropical storm-force winds reaching out 205 miles. The storm is just over 300 miles northwest of Puerto Rico as of Sunday evening.