Storms that ramp up so quickly complicate forecasting and make it harder for government agencies to plan for emergencies. Hurricane Erick, a Pacific storm that made landfall June 19 in Oaxaca, Mexico, also strengthened rapidly, doubling in intensity in less than a day.

Hurricane Erin is likely to restrengthen again as it passes east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas on Monday after lashing the Caribbean with damaging winds and flooding rain.

Officials in the northern Caribbean warned Thursday of heavy rain and dangerous swells as Tropical Storm Erin approached the region. The storm is expected to remain over open waters and move north-northeast of islands including Antigua and Barbuda,