The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.

Erin, the first hurricane of the season, is now forecast to become a Category 4 by Sunday. Here's where it could head in the week ahead.

Forecasters say Hurricane Erin has formed in the Atlantic Ocean on track to bring heavy rains that could lead to flooding and landslides in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become a hurricane later today, Aug. 15, and a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph over the weekend. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

The National Hurricane Center expects this storm to gradually strengthen over the next day or so, but also warned of its potential to rapidly intensify within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Colorado State University experts released their final forecast for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season last week, on Aug. 6.

On Monday the 11th, the National Hurricane Center named Tropical Storm Erin in the Eastern Atlantic. The significance of Erin in comparison to this years other named storms is this specific named storm has the best chance to potentially become the first hurricane of the season in the Atlantic for 2025.