A strengthening tropical storm in the Atlantic is capturing attention, and for good reason. "Erin is forecast to intensify into a major hurricane by the weekend, prompting heightened alerts across the Caribbean and along the US East Coast,

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to intensify into the first major hurricane of the season, according to the National Hurrican Center.

The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.