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.

A low pressure system off the coast of Africa is forecast to become a tropical storm or Hurricane Erin this week and move toward the U.S. east coast. But many uncertainties remain, including the