Tropical Storm Erin has developed close to the Cape Verde Islands, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Situated about 280 miles west-northwest of the islands, Erin features maximum sustained winds of 45 mph,

The National Hurricane Center expects tropical Storm Erin - which is powering across the eastern Atlantic Ocean - to intensify, potentially becoming a major hurricane as early as this weekend

Tropical Storm Erin is now the fifth named storm in the Atlantic this season as it formed on Monday off the western coast of Africa.