Forecasters confirmed on Monday morning that Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean just west of the Cabo Verde Islands.
At 11 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Erin was moving toward the west near 20 mph. They expect this motion to continue for the next several days.
NHC said the maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with tropical storm force winds extending up to 35 miles from the center.
The NHC is anticipating Erin to become a hurricane later this week, and potentially a major hurricane by the weekend.
ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips said, "it's still way too early to know for sure where Erin ends up going. Most models, however, agree there will be an eventual curve before a U.S. landfall. We all know that can change. At this point, parents of students at the University of South Florida, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Tampa have no worries. Rule#7. Nothing to freak out about."
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