Nearly 155,000 utility customers are without power in Puerto Rico as Category 3 Hurricane Erin batters the Caribbean, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 3 hurricane, is moving west-northwest and is expected to turn north on Monday and Tuesday.

Rough ocean conditions will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents, the NHC said.

Erin rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean Saturday before weakening slightly to a Category 4 status, the National Hurricane Center said.

The risk of significant damage from hurricanes extends beyond coastal areas, as highlighted by a report indicating over 33.1 million residential properties are at moderate or greater risk of hurrican...