 Hurricane Erika was the strongest and longest @-@ lasting tropical cyclone in the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season . It developed from a tropical wave on September 3 and moved west @-@ northwestward across the tropical Atlantic Ocean , steadily intensifying until it attained hurricane status on September 4 , becoming the fifth named storm and third hurricane of the season . Erika passed a short distance to the north of the Lesser Antilles , and later turned to the north in response to an approaching trough . The hurricane quickly strengthened to become the only major hurricane of the season , reaching maximum sustained winds of 125 mph ( 205 km / h ) on September 8 ; after maintaining its peak strength for 24 hours , Erika began to weaken as it passed over cooler waters . It turned to the east , weakened to a tropical storm , and became extratropical after passing near the Azores archipelago . 
