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 formed on Monday in the far eastern Atlantic and is forecast to reach major hurricane strength by this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Erin is moving quickly and forecast to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season by the "latter part of this week," the National Hurricane Center said Monday. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west at 21 mph,