Tropical Storm Watches Issued For Northern Leeward Islands
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USA Today
4 minutes ago
- USA Today
Erin becomes first hurricane of the Atlantic season; direct hit on US not expected
"Erin will be a large and powerful hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean this weekend," the National Hurricane Center said. Hurricane Erin formed in the Atlantic on Aug. 15, becoming the first hurricane of the 2025 season and putting it on track to become a major hurricane over the weekend, forecasters said. "At this time we don't expect a direct hit to the United States – we still need to watch it just in case," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. "We expect the entirety of the East Coast to be impacted by big waves, rip currents next week." It was still too early to determine exactly what impact Erin might have on the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas and Bermuda, forecasters said. Rough surf conditions and rip currents could be in store for the Atlantic basin, with potential for tropical storm conditions in Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands. Experts urged preparing ahead of time for potential hurricanes. Other impacts to land include the chance of 10- to 15-foot waves along the Outer Banks, barrier islands off North Carolina and southern Virginia, flash flooding and mudslides in Puerto Rico and wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph in Bermuda, AccuWeather said. Erin is predicted to become a major hurricane, defined as a Category 3 or higher storm. Major hurricanes have wind speeds of over 110 mph, and AccuWeather predicted Erin could have winds of at least 130 mph, which would make it a Category 4 storm. "Regardless of the details, Erin will be a large and powerful hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean this weekend," the National Hurricane Center said in a morning update. The system developed into a tropical storm out in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 12 and moved along a westward path. It originated off the African coast as a cluster of rain showers and thunderstorms last week, according to AccuWeather. This is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather usually peaks between mid-August and mid-October. On average, the Atlantic usually sees its first hurricane on about Aug. 11, according to NOAA, putting Erin just about on track with typical seasons. Erin path tracker This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. How to prepare for a hurricane Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Prepare now for hurricanes: Here's what you should do before a storm arrives
CBS News
5 minutes ago
- CBS News
Hurricane Erin forms over Atlantic, the first of 2025 season. Maps show its path and forecast.
Erin strengthened into a hurricane Friday as the storm continued on a path over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. It is the first hurricane to develop in the Atlantic this year, and it was expected to continue gaining strength, potentially growing into a major hurricane. Forecasters with the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami have been urging people in the Caribbean islands to monitor Erin's progress, warning of the potential for heavy rainfall and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Hurricane Erin is not currently forecast to impact the United States, but meteorologists continue to watch it closely. Forecasters expected Erin's path to curve northward, with the hurricane likely passing near the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend. The northern Leewards stretch from the Virgin Islands to Guadeloupe and include St. Martin, St. Barts and other islands. A "spaghetti map" of the forecast models show the storm pivoting to the northwest and north, skirting the islands and remaining well offshore of the U.S. East Coast. Erin is forecast to continue getting stronger, likely developing into a major hurricane, meaning at least a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or higher. Erin formed as a tropical storm Monday west of the island nation of Cabo Verde, a few hundred miles off Africa's western coast. It is the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which started in June and runs through November. So far this year, Tropical Storm Chantal is the only one to have made landfall in the U.S., bringing deadly flooding to North Carolina in early July. In June, Barry made landfall as a tropical depression on Mexico's eastern coast. Erin's increased strength comes as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches its peak in September. According to the hurricane center, most of the season's activity typically happens between mid-August and mid-October. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, hurricane season starts on May 15 with a peak in activity typically seen in late August. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, forecast an above-normal season for the Atlantic this year, expecting between 13 and 18 named storms. Tropical storms have maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Forecasters with NOAA anticipated between five and nine of the storms this year could become hurricanes, which have sustained winds of at least 74 mph. Hurricanes are rated on a scale based on their wind speeds, ranging from Category 1, the weakest, to Category 5, the most severe rating. Storms with winds of at least 111 mph are considered major hurricanes and are rated Category 3 and up. NOAA forecasters predicted there could be between two and five major hurricanes in the Atlantic this season.
Indianapolis Star
19 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Tropical Storm Erin to strengthen into hurricane Friday: See path tracker
Tropical Storm Erin is continuing to pick up strength as it moves across the Atlantic, with forecasters expecting the storm to officially strengthen into a hurricane on Friday, Aug. 15, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane center issued an advisory at 8 a.m. ET on Aug. 15 that said Erin is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph and that this motion is expected to continue into the weekend. The center of the storm is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend. As of 8 a.m. ET, it was located about 520 miles east of the islands. Forecasters said maximum sustained winds are about 70 mph with higher gusts and that steady strengthening is expected during the next few days. "Erin is forecast to become a hurricane later today and could become a major hurricane by this weekend," the hurricane center said. A major hurricane is a term used for cyclones rated a Category 3 or higher with sustained wind speeds over 110 mph. Erin is expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall beginning late Friday, Aug. 15, and continuing through the weekend across the northernmost Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as southern and eastern Puerto Rico. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated totals of 6 inches, are expected, and this rainfall may lead to isloated flash and urban flooding, along with landslides and mudslides, according to hurricane center forecasters. Additioanlly, swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend, and will likely spread to the western Atlantic next week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the NHC said. Rapid intensification?: Hurricane forecasters say Erin's winds could skyrocket. This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts. In addition to Erin, the NHC is also keeping an eye on a disturbance located over the western Gulf that forecasters say "continues to lack a closed low-level circulation." Forecasters said in an Aug. 15 advisory that shower activity has increased some over the past few hours and the system, currently labeled as Invest 98L, could become a short-lived tropical depression before it moves inland over northeastern Mexico or soutehrn Texas this afternoon oe evening. "Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible along portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas over the next couple of days, and interests there should monitor the progress of this system," the hurricane center said in the advisory. The NHC gives the system a 50% chance of formation through the next 48 hours. Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 mph. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Delaying potentially lifesaving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.
