TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Hurricane Erin remains a Category 4 storm as life-threatening surf and rip currents are likely across the U.S. eastern seaboard this week, the National Hurricane Center announced.
Erin is located about 105 miles north-northeast of Grand Turk Island and about 915 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
A gradual turn to the north is expected later today and on Tuesday.
The core of Erin is expected to pass to the east of the southeastern Bahamas today and move between Bermuda and the east coast of the United States by the middle of the week, the NHC said.
Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph.
According to the NHC, Erin is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and additional strengthening is expected today.
Some weakening is expected to begin tonight.
“Erin will remain a large and dangerous major hurricane through the middle of the week,” the National Hurricane Center said.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Central Bahamas.
A tropical wave is producing showers and thunderstorms over the eastern Tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.
A tropical depression could form at the end of the week as the system moves westward to west-northwestward at about 20 mph.
The system is likely to approach the vicinity of the Leeward Islands on Friday.
The chance of formation in the next seven days is 50 percent.
