Tropical Storm Erin continues to move quickly west, and is expected to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Strengthening is expected to begin soon, with forecasters predicting Erin will become a hurricane Thursday, Aug. 14, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters are predicting Erin will become a major hurricane Sunday, Aug. 17. A major hurricane is one that’s a Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
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Even as a tropical rainstorm, Erin dumped 7 to 8 inches of rain on the Cabo Verde Islands off the coast of Africa, killing at least six people, according to AccuWeather.
The National Hurricane Center said it is still too early to determine “what impacts, if any, Erin will bring” to Florida or the east coast of the United States. Officials are encouraging residents to monitor the storm closely and to make sure they’re prepared.
Where is Tropical Storm Erin and where is it going?
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Tropical Storm Erin spaghetti models
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
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What should you do now to prepare for hurricane season?
Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching while shelves are full stocked and you aren’t battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time.
“It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community,” the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X. “Hurricane season is a marathon, not a sprint.”
On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators.
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Florida weather radar for Aug. 12, 2025
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
What is the weather forecast in Leesburg?
According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature on Aug. 13 will be 94 degrees, with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms.
The high temperatures for the rest of the week will be 95 to 96 degrees.
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
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.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Hurricane names for 2025 season
Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them:
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This story has been updated to include new information.
Jim Ross contributed
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Tropical Storm Erin expected to become hurricane. Here’s the forecast for Lake County
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
