Hurricane season begins as tropical storm Erin poised to strengthen. Does it pose a threat to US?

Economic Times

2 days ago

Synopsis
Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the eastern Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season. Currently west of the Cabo Verde Islands, Erin is moving west with sustained winds of 45 mph. Forecasts suggest it could become a major hurricane by the time it approaches the Caribbean.
AP
Erin is one of three weather systems currently being monitored in the Atlantic
Tropical Storm Erin formed Monday morning in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and forecasters expect it to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this week. Erin is on track to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, meteorologists said.
On Monday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami announced that Erin had developed from a tropical wave as it churned west of the Cabo Verde Islands, an archipelago that sits off the western coast of Africa.
Early models showed that the storm was expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the time it nears the Caribbean islands toward the end of the week. It doesn't pose an immediate threat to the US.It's far too early to know exactly what kind of a threat it will pose to the Caribbean, Bermuda or even the United States once it gets there.
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As of 11 a.m., the storm was moving west at 20 mph and had sustained winds of 45 mph, the hurricane center said. The storm was located 280 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and over 2,300 miles from the Leeward Islands.
The storm is expected to head westward through much of this week towards the northeast Caribbean and Southeastern US coast. It's too soon to say whether the storm will make landfall but experts are tracking the system and will make determinations later this week, according to NewsWeek.The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said it will initiate advisories on the storm starting Monday. The storm is expected to continue strengthening as it barrels west over the coming days. The hurricane center said several regional models "show Erin becoming a major hurricane," which is defined as any storm classified as a Category 3 or stronger, meaning it has winds over 110 mph.ALSO READ: Trump deploys National Guard in Washington DC, places it under direct federal control
Erin could explode in strength once it reaches this very warm water and become the season's first major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — as early as Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center.Erin is one of three weather systems currently being monitored in the Atlantic — and it's the one posing the greatest potential threat. While it's still early and the storm's long-term path remains highly uncertain, experts are urging those in the Caribbean and along the U.S. East Coast to keep a close watch on its progress.So far in 2025, there have been four named tropical storms — Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter — but no hurricanes. Forecasters expect above-average tropical activity this year and more storms could form in the coming weeks.