Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The fifth named storm of the year has developed in the Atlantic Basin. On Monday, disturbance AL97 officially formed into Tropical Storm Erin, the region’s fifth of the season.
Meteorologists say Erin will quickly gain hurricane status, developing into a category 1 by Wednesday at which time it will continue to gain strength, achieving major hurricane 3 status by the weekend as it moves on a westward direction.
Current Tropical Storm Erin will pass the eastern side of Dominican Republic as at least a major category 3 hurricane as it makes its way and toward the southeastern U.S. coast. As of Monday when Erin developed, it was 455 kms (280 miles) west northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph).
Erin is currently moving west at 31 km/h (20 mph), a motion that is expected to continue for the next few days.
According to the National Hurricane Centre, “earlier satellite wind data indicated that maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next several days.
“Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center.” Disturbance AL97 formed off the west coast of Africa Sunday, gaining tropical storm status as Erin late Monday morning. Tropical Storm Erin currently has a westward trajectory.
