Tropical Storm Erin expected to become hurricane by Friday

By Judson Jones

Tropical Storm Erin continued moving westward Thursday, gradually intensifying over the southwestern Atlantic. By Friday, the storm is expected to become the Atlantic’s first hurricane this year and to pass north of the Caribbean Islands this weekend. But the models forecasters use to predict where a storm goes are starting to suggest it may curve away from the East Coast of the United States early next week.

Here’s what you need to know:

— Forecasters remain cautious that the storm’s trajectory could still change and have warned people to continue watching updates closely over the next few days.

— No warning or watches have been issued, but swells, which can produce dangerous rip currents, are expected to affect Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands by the weekend.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port-San Juan directed the setting of Port Condition X-RAY for all seaports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgins Islands due to the tropical storm.

“The Coast Guard strongly cautions the maritime community to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions as Tropical Storm Erin approaches the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on a west-northwest track across the Central Atlantic,” the Coast Guard said in a news release. “Ports and maritime facilities are currently open to all commercial traffic and all transfer and cargo operations may continue while Port Condition X-RAY remains in effect.”

— Even if Erin curves away from the United States, the threat of dangerous rip currents is increasing for the Atlantic coast.

— Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they expect it to be an above-average season, with up to 18 total named storms by the time it ends in November. A typical season has 14 named storms.