The chances that rain and wind from Tropical Storm Erin will hit the East Coast have risen slightly this week.

For now, most reliable computer models that meteorologists use show Erin curving away from the United States, spinning off the East Coast later in August.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Erin is expected to begin strengthening today, Aug. 13 and become a hurricane Friday, Aug. 15, and a strong Category 3 hurricane by Sunday, Aug. 17 as it moves out of an area with dry area and "marginal" sea surface temperatures.