Caribbean officials warn of heavy rains and big waves as Tropical Storm Erin nears
The storm is expected to remain over open waters and move north-northeast of islands including Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Erin was located about 890 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving west at 17 mph.
Erin is forecast to become a hurricane by Friday and strengthen into a Category 3 storm by late Saturday, which would mark the first major storm this season.
'Erin is moving into an area of the Atlantic primed for rapid intensification. The waters are incredibly warm,' said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert for AccuWeather.
Tropical-storm force winds could occur in parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, forecasters said.
'There is still a greater than normal uncertainty about what impacts Erin may bring to portions of the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda in the long range,' the hurricane center said.
Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry said nearly all models have Erin turning 'safely east of the broader U.S. next week.'
Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Forecasters are expecting another unusually busy season for the Atlantic, with predictions calling for six to 10 hurricanes, with up to half reaching major status.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
19 minutes ago
- CNN
Tropical Storm Erin could soon become the Atlantic season's first hurricane
Hurricanes Storms Federal agencies FacebookTweetLink Fifth time's the charm? After an early summer lull, the Atlantic could soon have its first hurricane of the year: Erin. Erin strengthened into a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph on Thursday evening while over the open tropical Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm could bring some gusty winds, rain, rough surf and rip currents to parts of the far northeastern Caribbean as it slides just north of the islands this weekend. Erin is tracking west-northwest on Friday morning, still hundreds of miles away from any land. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next few days as it cruises across the Atlantic and is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday. Four other systems roamed the Atlantic basin before Erin – Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – but none were stronger than a tropical storm. The season's first hurricane is slightly behind schedule. The first hurricane of the season typically forms around August 11, although recent seasons have had some early arrivals. There had already been three hurricanes – Beryl, Debby and Ernesto – at this point last year. Erin is forecast to pass just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, while making a gradual turn toward the north. Tropical storm watches were issued for several of the northern Leeward Islands on Thursday evening. Direct landfall on any of the Caribbean islands is unlikely, but not impossible, if Erin's path wobbles in the coming days. It's more likely that Erin will churn up rough seas and produce rip currents in the Caribbean through the weekend and into early next week. Gusty wind and rain – which could be heavy at times – are also possible depending on exactly how close Erin tracks to the islands. The storm's intense rain could also cause flash flooding or mudslides. It's too soon to know what kind of threat Erin could pose to Bermuda. Any potential impacts to the island should become clearer early next week. The hurricane is currently forecast to stay away from the United States, but that's not an absolute certainty. Even if it does remain offshore, Erin could also generate rough surf and dangerous rip currents along the US East Coast next week. How quickly Erin strengthens in the coming days could be the key factor in its eventual path. There's plenty of fuel for Erin to tap into in the western Atlantic as sea surface temperatures are much warmer than normal. They aren't quite as warm as the record levels reached in 2023 and 2024, but are still far warmer than they'd be in a world that wasn't heating up due to fossil fuel pollution. Erin could explode in strength once it reaches this very warm water and become the season's first major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — by Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. When hurricanes grow stronger, their storm clouds also grow taller and reach higher into the atmosphere. That extra height allows them to tap into the faster winds present higher in the atmosphere that can pull the storm more to the north. The Bermuda High — a large, semi-permanent area of clockwise circulating high pressure that meanders over the Atlantic Ocean — is often in the driver's seat in this case: When the high turns the steering wheel, the hurricane generally follows. But if Erin develops more slowly, the system could stay lower in the atmosphere, where the trade winds — winds that flow clockwise around the equator — could keep it tracking to the west and prevent it from turning. Which scenario wins out will become clear by the weekend, but any islands in the potential path of Erin should prepare ahead of time. August is when the tropics usually come alive: The busiest stretch of the season typically spans from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters expect above-average tropical activity this year and more storms could form in short order. An area of showers and thunderstorms in the southern portion of the Gulf has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression before the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. The stormy area has a short window to develop while drifting over the very warm water of the Gulf before it moves inland, likely in northeastern Mexico or southern Texas, by Friday night. Periods of heavy rain are possible in the area Friday regardless of whether a tropical depression or tropical storm forms. A Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain is in place Friday in far southern Texas with a Level 1 of 4 risk for the rest of the state's Gulf Coast, as well as parts of southern Louisiana, due to the anticipated arrival of moisture-loaded air, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The rain could result in some flooding, especially along low-lying or poor drainage areas, according to the National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas.
CNN
34 minutes ago
- CNN
Tropical Storm Erin could soon become the Atlantic season's first hurricane
Fifth time's the charm? After an early summer lull, the Atlantic could soon have its first hurricane of the year: Erin. Erin strengthened into a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph on Thursday evening while over the open tropical Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm could bring some gusty winds, rain, rough surf and rip currents to parts of the far northeastern Caribbean as it slides just north of the islands this weekend. Erin is tracking west-northwest on Friday morning, still hundreds of miles away from any land. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next few days as it cruises across the Atlantic and is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday. Four other systems roamed the Atlantic basin before Erin – Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – but none were stronger than a tropical storm. The season's first hurricane is slightly behind schedule. The first hurricane of the season typically forms around August 11, although recent seasons have had some early arrivals. There had already been three hurricanes – Beryl, Debby and Ernesto – at this point last year. Erin is forecast to pass just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, while making a gradual turn toward the north. Tropical storm watches were issued for several of the northern Leeward Islands on Thursday evening. Direct landfall on any of the Caribbean islands is unlikely, but not impossible, if Erin's path wobbles in the coming days. It's more likely that Erin will churn up rough seas and produce rip currents in the Caribbean through the weekend and into early next week. Gusty wind and rain – which could be heavy at times – are also possible depending on exactly how close Erin tracks to the islands. The storm's intense rain could also cause flash flooding or mudslides. It's too soon to know what kind of threat Erin could pose to Bermuda. Any potential impacts to the island should become clearer early next week. The hurricane is currently forecast to stay away from the United States, but that's not an absolute certainty. Even if it does remain offshore, Erin could also generate rough surf and dangerous rip currents along the US East Coast next week. How quickly Erin strengthens in the coming days could be the key factor in its eventual path. There's plenty of fuel for Erin to tap into in the western Atlantic as sea surface temperatures are much warmer than normal. They aren't quite as warm as the record levels reached in 2023 and 2024, but are still far warmer than they'd be in a world that wasn't heating up due to fossil fuel pollution. Erin could explode in strength once it reaches this very warm water and become the season's first major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — by Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. When hurricanes grow stronger, their storm clouds also grow taller and reach higher into the atmosphere. That extra height allows them to tap into the faster winds present higher in the atmosphere that can pull the storm more to the north. The Bermuda High — a large, semi-permanent area of clockwise circulating high pressure that meanders over the Atlantic Ocean — is often in the driver's seat in this case: When the high turns the steering wheel, the hurricane generally follows. But if Erin develops more slowly, the system could stay lower in the atmosphere, where the trade winds — winds that flow clockwise around the equator — could keep it tracking to the west and prevent it from turning. Which scenario wins out will become clear by the weekend, but any islands in the potential path of Erin should prepare ahead of time. August is when the tropics usually come alive: The busiest stretch of the season typically spans from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters expect above-average tropical activity this year and more storms could form in short order. An area of showers and thunderstorms in the southern portion of the Gulf has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression before the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. The stormy area has a short window to develop while drifting over the very warm water of the Gulf before it moves inland, likely in northeastern Mexico or southern Texas, by Friday night. Periods of heavy rain are possible in the area Friday regardless of whether a tropical depression or tropical storm forms. A Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain is in place Friday in far southern Texas with a Level 1 of 4 risk for the rest of the state's Gulf Coast, as well as parts of southern Louisiana, due to the anticipated arrival of moisture-loaded air, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The rain could result in some flooding, especially along low-lying or poor drainage areas, according to the National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Erin expected to become season's first hurricane by Friday
Tropical Storm Erin is barreling toward Puerto Rico — and could become the season's first hurricane before the end of the week. Sweeping through the Atlantic Ocean, Erin is heading toward Puerto Rico, the Leeward Islands, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is forecast to become a 'large and formidable major hurricane' as soon as Friday, the National Hurricane Center said in a Thursday night advisory. The tropical storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane on Friday and then 'rapidly intensify' into a Category 3 hurricane by Saturday afternoon, Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, said in a statement Thursday. 'There is a window of opportunity where Erin could explode into a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic,' DaSilva warned. Heavy rains and flash floods could ravage the islands this weekend and into next week, the National Hurricane Center predicted. On Thursday night, Erin was 690 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds whipping at 70 mph. NOAA aircraft data indicates Erin is 'near hurricane strength,' the hurricane center warned Thursday evening. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Anguilla and Barbuda, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. The storm killed at least nine people this week in Cape Verde's island of Sao Vicente, where torrential rains, strong winds, and flash floods slammed the area, according to a report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Five people were missing and 1,500 people were displaced due to the storm. The government declared a state of emergency. In preparation for when the hurricane makes landfall, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he was deploying resources from his home state to Puerto Rico. 'I just approved the deployment of California resources to Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Erin,' he wrote in a statement shared to social media on Thursday evening. 'We're glad to help coordinate life-saving response to Americans in harm's way.' The Federal Emergency Management Agency also said it 'stands ready to support local officials in Puerto Rico & the U.S.V.I. who are leading the preparation & response efforts as Tropical Storm #Erin threatens to impact the islands.' The agency wrote in a statement: 'Our teams are on the ground and staging resources, including generators ahead of the storm.' Erin is the fifth storm named this hurricane season, which spans from June 1 through November 30.
