Tropical Storm Erin formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday as meteorologists warned it could develop into a major hurricane this week.
AccuWeather meteorologists are tracking the storm west of the Cabo Verde Islands, saying it could become a hurricane by August 14 and intensify to a Category 3 by August 16.
Spaghetti models showed it curving northward along the US East Coast, with the potential for landfall or a close approach.
A spaghetti model forecasts possible paths a tropical storm or hurricane might take, based on predictions from multiple weather computer programs.
Senior meteorologist Chad Merrill said: ‘The upper-air pattern late this week favors it turning north and likely staying east of the US East Coast.’
‘However, rough surf and rip currents could increase along East Coast beaches next weekend into early the following week.’
A large plume of dust and dry air lies ahead of Erin, but as long as the storm stays within its current moist, dust-free area, it will continue to organize and strengthen.
‘There will be a significant increase in seas, surf and rip currents along the East coast beaches next weekend into the following week,’ Merrill said. Dangerous conditions may develop in Bermuda and parts of the Bahamas as well.
This is a developing story… More updates to come.
A tropical rainstorm as developed into Tropical Storm Erin, which experts predict could become a hurricane later this week
Spaghetti models showed it curving northward along the US East Coast, with the potential for landfall or a close approach
The system formed as a tropical rainstorm off the coast of Africa over the weekend, moving west toward the US.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Monday morning gave it a 90 percent chance of cyclone formation over the next seven days, but predicted it would become a tropical storm today.
‘The intensity forecast in the short-term is a little tricky,’ the NHC said.
‘The earlier scatterometer data indicate the system has a small circulation, which could be prone to rapid intensity changes, either up or down.’
AccuWeather shows dangerous sea and rip currents are set from Daytona Beach, Florida, up to Nantucket in Massachusetts.
