Tropical Storm Erin, currently in the Atlantic Ocean, is expected to become a hurricane later this week.
Tropical Storm Erin
Erin could become a Category 1 hurricane by Thursday morning and a major hurricane over the weekend. It’s currently far out in the Atlantic and won’t get near land — specifically Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic — until Saturday or Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida notes that it is too early to determine what, if any, impacts the storm could have on East Central Florida.
The center of TS Erin was located near latitude 17.4 North, longitude 34.3 West at 5 a.m. AST on Tuesday. It is moving west near 22 mph (35 km/h). This motion is expected to continue for the next several days with a decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn toward the west-northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.
Whether or not the storm hits Florida, the state will likely experience rainier days than normal next week. Outdoor attractions and entertainment at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort could be canceled. Depending on the path and strength of the storm, theme parks could close.
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