Tropical Storm Erin expected to become major hurricane by Sunday
Forecasters say the likelihood of a landfall on the U.S. East Coast remains low, but cautioned residents of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas and East Coast states to make sure preparation plans are in order.
In its latest update, the National Hurricane Center said the storm 'continues to have a ragged overall appearance,' but expectations are for significant intensification by the end of the week, reaching hurricane status by Friday and major hurricane status by Sunday with winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour.
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The storm is not expected to impact the northern Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of America.
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USA Today
16 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tropical Storm Erin to strengthen into a hurricane Friday: See where it's headed
Tropical Storm Erin is continuing to pick up strength as it moves northwest 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 5 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. Forecasters said maximum sustained winds are near 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 in the advisory. 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 hte 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. Tropical Storm Erin path tracker 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. Tropical Storm Erin spaghetti models 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. National Hurricane Center also tracking a system in the southwestern Gulf 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. 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. 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. Prepare now for hurricanes 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. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
CNBC
18 minutes ago
- CNBC
Heavy rains expected in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands as Tropical Storm Erin nears
Tropical Storm Erin was expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Friday as it approached the northeast Caribbean, prompting forecasters to warn of possible flooding and landslides. The storm is expected to remain over open waters, although tropical storm watches were issued for Anguilla and Barbuda, St. Martin and St. Barts, Saba and St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. Heavy rains were forecast to start late Friday in Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and southern and eastern Puerto Rico. Up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) are expected, with isolated totals of up to 6 inches (15 centimeters), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Forecasters also warned of dangerous swells. The storm was located about 520 miles (835 kilometers) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph). Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry said Erin is forecast to eventually take a sharp turn northeast that would put it on a path between the U.S. and Bermuda. "The forecasts for next week still keep the future hurricane safely east of the mainland U.S.," he said. Erin is forecast to become a major Category 3 storm late this weekend. The hurricane center noted "there is still 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." Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to affect the U.S. East Coast next week, with waves reaching up to 15 feet (5 meters) along parts of the North Carolina coast that could cause beach erosion, according to Accuweather. "Erin is forecast to explode into a powerful Category 4 hurricane as it moves across very warm waters in the open Atlantic. Water temperatures at the surface and hundreds of feet deep are several degrees higher than the historical average," said Alex DaSilva, Accuweather's lead hurricane expert. Erin is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. This year's season is once again expected to be unusually busy. The forecast calls for six to 10 hurricanes, with three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph).
NBC News
18 minutes ago
- NBC News
Tropical Storm Erin expected to strengthen into first Atlantic hurricane of 2025 season
Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on Friday, marking the first Atlantic hurricane to form this year. Erin, swirling in the open water of the tropical Atlantic about 570 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, will strengthen over the next few days and could become a major hurricane by the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said in a Friday morning advisory. With 70 mph winds moving west-northwest at 17 mph, Erin's center is expected to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. Erin is expected to produce heavy rainfall late Friday through the weekend across the northernmost Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and southern and eastern Puerto Rico. Two to four inches of rainfall, with isolated areas of six inches, is forecast, which could lead to isolated flash and urban flooding, landslides and mudslides. Erin will also generate swells that will impact the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend.
