Tropical Storm Erin forms in Atlantic

Tropical Storm Erin forms in the eastern Atlantic and could strengthen into the season's first hurricane with Caribbean impacts.

Erin Forms in Atlantic Likely First Hurricane This Season

Tropical Storm Erin formed west of the Cabo Verde islands in the eastern Atlantic on Monday, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters warn Erin could strengthen into the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season as it moves west toward the Caribbean later this week, though there is no immediate threat to the United States.

As of 11 a.m. EDT Erin's center was about 2,305 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph. Erin is the fifth named storm of the season; earlier tropical storms Dexter and Chantal formed elsewhere, with Chantal making landfall on the Carolina coast in July. The National Weather Service expects an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms and five to nine that could become hurricanes. These definitions are standard. A tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm when winds reach at least 39 mph. A hurricane begins at 74 mph, and a major hurricane reaches Category 3 with winds of 111 mph or more.

The forecast shows how a single storm can reflect a larger pattern. The season looks active because warm Atlantic waters and low wind shear persist, but track forecasts remain uncertain. Erin moving toward the Caribbean means communities there should stay prepared even as the U.S. remains on the periphery of the immediate threat. A stronger season does not equal a guaranteed disaster, yet it does demand clear messaging and steady readiness from governments and residents alike.

Highlights

Forecasts will evolve as Erin moves across the ocean