Riley is a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
Hurricane Erin intensified quickly over the weekend, becoming a Category 5 storm packing wind speeds of 160 miles per hour. As the week begins, Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, has dropped to Category 4 and is threatening the East Coast with high winds, heavy rains, and rough surf. If recent years are a measure of what’s to come, Erin could be the first of several major storms this season. Here’s a look at how the number of Category 5 hurricanes across North America has increased by 56% over the last 50 years.