Tropical Storm Erin formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Monday, forecasters said. The storm could strengthen to become the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season.

The first hurricane of the season will probably form in the Atlantic later this week, potentially strengthening into a major Category 3 storm north of the Caribbean Islands. After emerging from Africa this past weekend, a tropical disturbance is forecast to bring rough weather to the Cabo Verde Islands into Monday.

Forecasters say the system, called Invest 97 for now, continued to look more organized and and had a well-defined center.