The National Hurricane Center expects tropical Storm Erin - which is powering across the eastern Atlantic Ocean - to intensify, potentially becoming a major hurricane as early as this weekend

Tropical Storm Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday, forecasters said. The storm could strengthen to become the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season.

Tropical Storm Erin has developed close to the Cape Verde Islands, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Situated about 280 miles west-northwest of the islands, Erin features maximum sustained winds of 45 mph,