Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Erin is slightly intensifying and forecast to become a hurricane on Friday morning over the central tropical Atlantic with a chance of ultimately affecting the U.S. East Coast, the Bahamas and Bermuda next week, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
For the first time since Erin became a tropical storm Monday morning, intensity increased, though just 5 mph, to maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, with gradual strengthening during the next two days forecast, the NHC said in its 5 p.m. EDT update.
Forecasters said Erin will become a major hurricane, with winds of at least 111 mph, by 2 p.m. Sunday.
It would be the first hurricane of the Atlantic season with winds at least 74 mph. Beryl was the first hurricane last year on June 24.
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