A westward-moving tropical wave could produce an area of low pressure in the tropical Atlantic late in the week of Aug. 18, the hurricane center said on Aug. 16. The center shows a 20% chance of storm formation over the next week.

Tropical Storm Erin, now spinning far out in the central Atlantic Ocean, could undergo rapid intensification into a powerful 125-mph hurricane.

Erin strengthened into a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph on Thursday evening while over the open tropical Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.