Erin is the fifth named storm to develop during the Atlantic hurricane season, which started just over two months ago. Last week, Tropical Storm Dexter formed in the western Atlantic but didn't pose a threat to land. In early July, Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall on the Carolina coast, bringing deadly flooding to the region.

Tropical Storm Erin is tracking west over the open Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday and forecasters expect it to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season this week.

Tropical Storm Erin has formed on a path toward the Caribbean and is expected to strengthen to a hurricane later in the week as it passes by Puerto Rico. Most models forecast the storm turning upward into the Atlantic Ocean, but a few see the storm continuing onward to the U.S. mainland.