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.

Tropical Storm Erin, still far in the east-central Atlantic, is forecast to intensify into a major Category 3 hurricane by this weekend, but a big turn to the north is still expected before the

The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.