Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a powerful hurricane and could bring heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous surf to the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend. AccuWeather meteorologists say a turn toward the west-northwest is likely before Erin reaches the islands.

Tropical Storm Erin is still moving quickly westward and is forecast to become a hurricane in a few days over the central tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.

As summer peaks, so does the Atlantic hurricane season, and the first major storm is now on our doorstep. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Erin is on a rapid westward path and is projected to strengthen into the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season as early as Thursday,