Erin’s sustained winds increased to 70 mph, just 4 mph shy of hurricane strength. The hurricane center said Erin should continue to strengthen through the weekend, when it should be moving near or north of the Leeward Islands, according to the official forecast path.

It continues to push toward the northern Leeward Islands, where tropical storm watches are now in effect as of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Intensification is expected as Erin moves toward warmer ocean temperatures over the next several days.

Storm Team 10 and the National Hurricane Center are tracking Tropical Storm Erin which has formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Erin has become the first hurricane of the season and is now forecast to become a Category 4 by early next week.

Hurricane Erin is currently not forecast to hit land, but strong winds are affecting nearby islands, prompting forecasters to warn of possible flooding and landslides.. The NHC said it will eventually swerve away from the continental United States.

The center of a tropical disturbance that flared up in the Gulf began to move across land on Friday, bringing heavy rainfall to parts of northeastern Mexico and South Texas.

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen, but will the storm be a direct hit to Delaware and the East Coast? See models, the latest updates here.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems in the Atlantic basin, including Invest 98L, which could become a tropical depression before moving onshore in either Mexico or southern Texas.