Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later this week in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Erin has formed on a path toward the Caribbean and is expected to strengthen to a hurricane later in the week as it passes by Puerto Rico. Most models forecast the storm turning upward into the Atlantic Ocean, but a few see the storm continuing onward to the U.S. mainland.

The air feels tropical in North Carolina, but tropical activity is ramping up in the Atlantic Ocean were Erin may become a hurricane. Erin may also could impact the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico depending on how far north the storm tracks.