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Tropical Storm Erika Spins Toward Caribbean, Path Unclear

Forecasters say the Southeast should keep an eye on the storm.
Image: probable path of Tropical Storm ERIKA
Tropical storm ERIKA's potential track area and probable path forecast by National Hurricane Center/NOAA.National Hurricane Center/NOAA
By Erin McClam

Tropical Storm Erika is drifting west toward the Caribbean, and forecasters say it could become a hurricane and brush close to Florida early next week.

Tropical storm watches were posted Tuesday for some islands in the east Caribbean. At 11 a.m. ET, Erika packed winds of 45 mph and was about 700 miles east of the Leeward Islands.

The Weather Channel reported that Erika could strengthen to a minor hurricane by Saturday, as it passes near the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba.

From there, the storm’s strength and path will depend on whether it passes over land and weakens, and on how it interacts with atmospheric wind patterns. Forecasters are advising people Florida and the Southeast to keep an eye on the storm.

Erin McClam

Erin McClam is a senior writer for NBC News, responsible for reporting, writing and editing general news for NBCNews.com. Prior to joining the site in January 2013, McClam worked at The Associated Press, where he spent 13 years and was most recently financial markets editor. In that role, McClam was responsible for a team of five reporters and a deputy editor that covered the stock and bond markets, financial regulation and the nation's largest banks.

Prior to that role, McClam held a variety of jobs at AP, including being a national correspondent and an original member of its Top Stories Desk editing operation.

McClam lives in New York.