Tropical Storm Erin, which is still thousands of miles from the U.S. East Coast in the central Atlantic Ocean, is traveling west and forecast to strengthen into the season's first hurricane by Aug. 14, the National Hurricane Center said.
But will it hit the United States?
Most reliable computer models that meteorologists use to forecast storms show Erin curving away from the United States, spinning off the East Coast in mid-August.
"It is too soon to discount – or pinpoint – USA landfall impacts from Erin but based upon current model guidance – the chance RIGHT NOW is low, at less than 10%," said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in an email to USA TODAY Aug. 11.
WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry added a note of caution, telling USA TODAY that "it’s worth reiterating that forecasts 5 to 10 days out are subject to large errors, so we’ll need to hang tight before confidently giving the U.S. the all-clear."
