Atlantic, Caribbean and Hurricane Erin
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Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in the Caribbean before weakening on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane watchers are eying systems in the Atlantic basin. One has a medium chance of developing later this week.
While Erin is expected to take a northward turn in the Atlantic, a new system off the coast of Africa has the National Hurricane Center's attention.
Tropical Storm Erin has begun strengthening as it streaks west across the Atlantic and is on track to reach hurricane status as soon as Friday, prompting tropical storm watches in the northern Leeward Islands.
Officials in the northern Caribbean are warning of heavy rains and dangerous swells as Tropical Storm Erin approaches the region.
FOX43's Grant Carlton has the latest forecast of what to expect as Hurricane Erin nears the East Coast and important warnings for beachgoers next week.
It quickly powered up from a tropical storm to a Category 5 in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said.
There is growing confidence that Tropical Storm Erin will curve north early next week as it approaches the Caribbean and U.S. East Coast, potentially sparing those areas the worst impacts of what could be a powerful storm.
Forecasters said Erin should begin to slowly weaken as it increased wind shear. However, it's predicted to remain a major hurricane until late next week.
Residents in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos braced for the dangerous Category 4 storm after it strengthened over the weekend while sweeping past Caribbean islands.