(CNN) — Fifth time’s the charm? After much speculation and many rounds of overhyped ghost storms going viral on social media, the Atlantic has its first real hurricane of the year: Erin .

Erin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph on Friday and is more than 300 miles east of the northeastern Caribbean’s Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane could bring some gusty winds, rain, rough surf and rip currents to parts of the far northeastern Caribbean as it slides just north of the islands this weekend.

Erin was tracking west-northwest on Friday afternoon and is expected to strengthen over the next few days as it cruises across the Atlantic.

It is forecast to start rapidly intensifying Friday night and become a Cat

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