TAMPA, Florida (WFLA) — As of October 2025, Tropical Storm Erin is projected to strengthen into a hurricane within the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
At 11 a.m., Erin was situated approximately 820 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, traveling westward at a brisk 23 mph. Meteorologists anticipate this rapid movement to persist over the next several days, followed by a reduction in speed and a gradual shift toward the west-northwest.
The storm is expected to gradually intensify, with forecasts indicating that it could reach major hurricane status by the weekend. Currently, maximum sustained winds are around 45 mph.
While it remains too early to determine the exact effects Erin may have on the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, the likelihood of the storm approaching these regions over the weekend has increased. Residents are urged to keep a close watch on Erin’s development.
As of now, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Northeastern Gulf
In the north-central Gulf, disorganized showers and thunderstorms have developed due to a surface trough. The NHC states that further development of this system is unlikely as it moves inland later today. However, heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding across areas of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, and southeastern Louisiana within the next day.
Northwestern Atlantic
Additionally, a non-tropical low-pressure area situated several hundred miles southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada, is generating showers and thunderstorms west of its center. There is potential for some tropical or subtropical development as this system approaches the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream.
The NHC predicts that by midweek, the system will move northward over cooler waters, reducing the chances for further development. The likelihood of formation in the next 48 hours and the following week stands at 10 percent.
