Tropical Storm Erin Barrelling Toward the Caribbean

The tropical rainstorm that formed on the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend is now Tropical Storm Erin. Forecasters have been predicting for days that this feature will eventually become a long-track hurricane as it churns through the Atlantic. Here is the latest on Erin as she makes her way through the basin.

Latest Update on Tropical Storm Erin

As of early Tuesday, Erin had pushed past the Cabo Verde Islands on its journey to the west. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) detailed that the storm was moving at a speed of 23 mph to the west packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

Erin is forecast to go through the process of rapid intensification and become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic tropical weather system. The storm is then predicted to intensify into a major hurricane, defined as a Category 3 or higher.

The latest forecast models show Erin making a curve to the northwest on Thursday or Friday. This movement will take the feature north of the Caribbean islands. However, the Windward Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hisaniola should all be prepared to experience rough surf conditions and dangerous squalls in the next few days. Interests in Bermuda and the Bahamas should also be on alert for potential impacts depending on Erin's track.

A variety of factors will work together to determine where Erin heads after it makes its initial turn to the northeast. The shape of the Bermuda High and the possibility of a cool front and jet stream plunge across the eastern U.S. will determine Erin's path as it inches closer to the Atlantic coastline next week.

For instance, should the Bermuda High retain its round shape and allow the advancing cool front and jet stream movement to take over, the storm is more likely to make a sharper turn to the north and avoid the U.S. Conversely, a Bermuda High that stretches to the west would bring the storm closer to U.S. soil. The likely impact zone would be north of Georgia.

Regardless of whether the U.S. sees any direct strikes from Erin, the massive weather maker is forecast to whip up the seas and create dangerous rip currents up and down the Eastern Seaboard beginning this weekend and lingering into the early part of next week. Meteorologists are also predicting that a growing storm could yield tropical storm conditions for up to 100 miles from the center.

This means that the U.S. does not have to experience a direct landfall to be under the wrath of the inclement conditions. The areas of the U.S. most likely to see the outer bands of the storm are those with land extending out into the sea. This includes coastal North Carolina; Long Island, New York; and Massachusetts' Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Beachgoers hoping to catch some late-season sun on the coast may be disappointed with the forecast.

Heading farther to the north and into Atlantic Canada, both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland may be under the gun for Erin's impacts. These effects would not likely arrive until late next week.

The last time that there was a Hurricane Erin was on September 11, 2001. On this tragic day in American history, Hurricane Erin was spinning in the Atlantic to the east of New York City. A cold front that swept through the Northeast just prior to the terror attacks pushed the hurricane well out to sea, protecting the Big Apple from its impacts. The end result was a clear day up and down the East Coast.

Looking at the Rest of the Atlantic

In addition to Erin, forecasters are still monitoring three more areas of interest in the tropical Atlantic. The first zone is located across the central Atlantic. This feature is forecast to move to the north, taking it away from any major landmasses.

Another zone is now churning off the coast of Atlantic Canada. This is the same cluster of rain showers and thunderstorms that formed off the coast of the Carolinas early last week. This system has since moved to the north up the coastline with a target of coming ashore in Canada by Wednesday.

Lastly, meteorologists are monitoring a low risk for potential tropical development later this week coming off the coast of Africa. While any impacts to the U.S. are well in the future, the disturbance could pick up steam as it moves into the warmest regions of the Caribbean.

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