Hurricane Erin now a Category 4 storm
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Two-and-a-half months into the season, the region has its first documented hurricane, and it could impact Long Island beaches.
As Erin continues to churn over very warm water, the storm will gain quick momentum and will likely become the first major hurricane (a category 3, 4 or 5 storm) as early as this weekend as it passes to the north of Puerto Rico.
Erin developed in the eastern Atlantic, moving westward from the Cabo Verde Islands at about 20 mph (32 km/h). Infrared sensors on NOAA's GOES-19 satellite reveal colder cloud tops and deep convection near the center — signs of a strengthening system feeding on warm ocean waters.
Tropical Storm Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday, forecasters said. The storm could strengthen to become the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season.
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The Cool Down on MSNHurricane experts watch as Tropical Storm Erin brews in Atlantic Ocean: 'Could result in a period of rapid intensification'
Tropical Storm Erin, now spinning far out in the central Atlantic Ocean, could undergo rapid intensification into a powerful 125-mph hurricane. According to Direct Weather's forecast, ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain may see less snow than usual.
Tropical Storm Erin is approaching Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, bringing heavy rains that could cause flooding and landslides