Tropical Storm Erin is likely to strengthen into the first major Atlantic hurricane of 2025, with potential wind and storm surge impacts for the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands before shifting to a more northward path toward the Atlantic coast, forecasters said Wednesday.
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.
The storm is not expected to impact the northern Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of America.
