Erin has intensified to a Category Four Hurricane as it makes its way toward the East Coast of the United States.

It continues to push toward the northern Leeward Islands, where tropical storm watches are now in effect as of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Intensification is expected as Erin moves toward warmer ocean temperatures over the next several days.

The NHC said it currently expected Erin to become a Category 4 storm later Saturday but to eventually swerve away from the continental United States.

Erin has become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, with several areas already on alert for heavy rain and strong waves and rip currents possible along the East Coast of the United States as early as next week. Hurricane Erin is a Category 1 storm with winds up to 75 mph.

Erin rapidly intensified into a major hurricane overnight. While Erin is forecast to remain well east of Florida, there will be coastal impacts as incoming large swells arrive next week and produce a HIGH risk of rip currents,

While the most likely track keeps Erin offshore from the U.S. East Coast, shifts in the storm’s path could bring strong winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding to parts of the eastern United States and Bermuda.