Tropical Storm Erin is on track to begin strengthening in the next day or so, likely to hurricane status as soon as Friday. The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast keeps the storm north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,

Tropical Storm Erin has begun to strengthen and is expected to reach major hurricane intensity this weekend as it tracks just north of the Caribbean islands, where it could bring rain, gusty winds and high surf.

Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a hurricane this weekend as it nears the northeastern Caribbean and Bahamas, raising concerns for strong winds, heavy rain, and dangerous surf along the islands.