Tropical Storm Erin strengthening, expected to become the season's first hurricane

Tropical Storm Erin to become first hurricane in Atlantic this year

Erin is forecast to become a hurricane by Friday, with the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane later on. The storm is moving west toward the Leeward Islands. 

Tropical Storm Erin remains on track to become a hurricane by Friday, Aug. 15. Coverage continues by clicking here.

MIAMI – Preparations for potential impacts from Tropical Storm Erin are underway in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the system continues to become better organized and remains on track to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands said territory-wide sandbag distribution for hurricane season was set to begin in a matter of days, but with Tropical Storm Erin spinning across the Atlantic Ocean, those plans were accelerated.

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"Due to the projected impact of Tropical Storm Erin on the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), in partnership with the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Public Works, the Office of ADA Coordinator, and the Department of Human Services, has accelerated the territory-wide sandbag distribution program," officials said in a Facebook post. "While the exact impact of Tropical Storm Erin remains uncertain at this time, VITEMA is taking proactive measures to ensure all residents have access to critical hurricane preparedness resources before the storm's arrival."

Officials said this accelerated distribution represents the only sandbag distribution for the 2025 hurricane season.

"We strongly encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to protect their homes and property," officials said.

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Hurricane Hunters are set to fly into Tropical Storm Erin on Friday to try and get a better understanding of the organizing storm, which forecasters say could become a major hurricane (Category 3 or greater) over the weekend.

This comes after the storm, which was first dubbed Invest 97L, caused several deaths in the Cabo Verde Islands off the coast of Africa.

Bryan Norcross gives expert exclusive analysis on tracking Erin's potential as major hurricane

Tropical Storm Erin is swirling its way through the Atlantic and is expected to enter warmer waters and intensify into a hurricane by Friday. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist talks about Erin's future and the possibility of it becoming the first major hurricane of the year. 

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Tropical Storm Erin had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, and strengthening began Wednesday evening. 

Tropical Storm Erin is located more than 1,100 miles to the east of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving off to the west at 16 mph.

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On that track, the NHC said the center of Tropical Storm Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend.

"Interests in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of Erin," the NHC said.

Swells generated by Tropical Storm Erin are expected to begin impacting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend.

Those swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions at local beaches.

At least 7 dead in Cabo Verde islands

Before becoming Tropical Storm Erin, the system brought torrential rain and thunderstorms to the Cabo Verde, or Cape Verde, islands when it was Invest 97L.

Local officials said at least seven people, including children, were killed.

"The Ministry of Education expresses its deepest sorrow for the tragic loss of seven lives, including four children, on the island of São Vincent," the Ministry of Education said in a translated Facebook post. The Ministry went on to say "in this time of mourning and dismay, the pain of the bereaved families is the pain of the entire nation."

Government officials said they declared two days of national mourning due to the loss of human lives and significant material damage caused by the passage of the system.

Watch: Video shows flooding fury unleashed by Tropical Storm Erin in Cabo Verde islands

A dramatic video recorded on São Vicente in the Cabo Verde islands off the coast of Africa shows destructive flooding unleashed by what is now Tropical Storm Erin on Aug. 11, 2025.