Tropical Storm Erin on Wednesday continued to push west through the Atlantic with it forecast to become the season’s first hurricane, growing to major hurricane strength by the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of the NHC’s 5 a.m. update, the center of Erin was located about 1,400 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean moving west at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend out 60 miles.

“On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend,” said NHC senior hurricane specialist Richard Pasch. “Gradual strengthening is forecast to begin today, and Erin will likely become a hurricane by late Thursday or early Friday.”

The cone of un

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