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

Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to become the season’s first hurricane by Thursday. The storm, which earned a name early Monday and is churning in the open Atlantic, could strengthen into a major hurricane of at least Category 3 strength by this weekend.

Erin will become the first hurricane of the season but it is also expected to reach Major Hurricane strength by this weekend as a Category 3 Hurricane.