Powerful Hurricane Erin has undergone a period of astonishingly rapid intensification — a phenomenon that has become far more common in recent years as the planet warms. It was a rare Category 5 for a time Saturday before becoming a Category 4, churning through the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean.

The August weather might seem ideal for a beach trip, but Hurricane Erin will bring widespread danger in coming days.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance in the Gulf near Mexico while watching the path of Tropical Storm Erin.

5 p.m. Update: Erin is now organizing and strengthening over the Central Atlantic. Erin is expected to become at least a Catgory 3 hurricane but missing Puerto Rico to the north and staying well east of Florida. It is expected to reach Jacksonville’s latitude about early Wednesday, resulting in some rough seas and surf at area beaches next week.

Hurricane season spans from June 1 to November 30. Here’s what you should know before Erin or any future storm approaches land.