SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Hurricane Erin remains a powerful Category 3 hurricane southeast of the Bahamas this afternoon.

Hurricane Erin remains a Category 3 major hurricane and is forecast to strengthen again as it turns toward the open Atlantic.

Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 3 hurricane Sunday as its outer bands continued to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with heavy rains and tropical-storm force winds.

The National Weather Service is warning that Hurricane Erin will likely strengthen to a Category 4 again after weakening to a Category 3 early Sunday morning.