Tropical Storm Erin Could Become First Hurricane of 2025

Tropical Storm Erin, now in the eastern tropical Atlantic, may strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season by late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). As of Tuesday night, Erin was about 1,520 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands with sustained winds of 45 mph, moving west at 20 mph.

While not currently threatening land, residents of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are advised to monitor developments. Forecast models suggest a gradual northward turn over the weekend, possibly steering the storm toward Bermuda and away from Florida. Meteorologists caution that long-range predictions are less reliable, but current trends keep Erin out in the Atlantic, north of the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Even without a direct U.S. hit, a strong hurricane near the coast could create dangerous rip currents and rough seas. Experts also warn against viral social media forecasts that exaggerate threats beyond the seven-to-ten-day window, calling them “fantastical speculation.”