Hurricane Erin remain a Category 2 storm Friday evening and is expected to rapidly intensify this weekend. The 5 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center has winds with Erin of 75 mph, making it a Category 1 storm. Tropical Storm Watches remain in effect for the northern Lesser Antilles.

Tropical Storm Erin is nearly at hurricane strength Thursday night, its western path putting islands in the far eastern Caribbean under tropical storm watches, according to the National Hurricane

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen and could become a major hurricane over the weekend as it shifts just north of the northern Leeward Islands, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides and life-threatening sea swells.