Erin is expected to strengthen into a powerful hurricane as it approaches the Caribbean. Thankfully, only indirect impacts are anticipated for the Leeward and Virgin Islands as well as Puerto Rico.

It has taken a while for the tropical storm to consolidate, even though it managed to cause serious damage in the Cabo Verde Islands even before being named. Dry and dusty air surrounded the system Monday through Wednesday while Erin moved over waters with temperatures not quite at the threshold needed for tropical cyclones to grow. It is common for the far eastern tropical Atlantic to have cooler sea surface temperatures.

Finally on Thursday the storm crossed into warmer waters while it distanced itself from the dry and stable airmass to its east. Maximum sustained winds were ramping up to

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