Authorities in the northern Caribbean issued warnings on Thursday regarding heavy rainfall and hazardous swells as Tropical Storm Erin approaches the area. The storm is predicted to maintain its course over open water, tracking north-northeast of various islands, including Antigua and Barbuda, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As of now, Erin is 790 miles (1,270 kilometres) east of the Northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds reaching 60 mph (95 kph) and a movement speed of 17 mph (28 kph).
Tropical storm watches are currently in effect for Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. Experts anticipate that Erin will transform into a hurricane by Friday and may intensify into a Category 3 storm by late Saturday, making it the first significant storm of the season. According to Alex DaSilva, a lead hurricane expert from AccuWeather, Erin is entering a zone in the Atlantic that is conducive to rapid strengthening due to the warmer sea temperatures.
Tropical-storm force winds are expected to affect parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend. However, the National Hurricane Centre has noted uncertainty regarding the storm’s potential impacts on the Bahamas, the east coast of the US, and Bermuda in the longer term. Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry remarked that nearly all forecasts indicate Erin will veer eastward, avoiding a direct hit on the broader US territory next week.
Erin represents the fifth named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Meteorologists are forecasting a particularly active season, expecting between six to ten hurricanes, with potentially half reaching major hurricane status.
Residents and visitors in the affected regions are advised to closely monitor the storm’s progress and prepare accordingly for severe weather conditions, as the situation remains dynamic.