Erin's Journey: A Storm to Watch in the Atlantic

A new tropical storm, Erin, has appeared in the Atlantic Ocean. It might grow into the first hurricane of the season. This storm started near the Cabo Verde islands, off Africa's west coast. Experts say it will move west and could become a major hurricane near the Caribbean islands by the end of the week. Don't worry, though—it's not a threat to the U. S. right now. Erin is the fifth named storm this season, which began a couple of months ago. Other storms like Dexter and Chantal have come and gone. Dexter didn't affect any land, but Chantal caused flooding in the Carolinas. The weather experts predict a busy season, with 13 to 18 named storms. Out of these, 5 to 9 could turn into hurricanes. So, what makes a storm a hurricane? A tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm when winds reach 39 mph. Hurricanes are stronger, with winds of at least 74 mph. They are rated from Category 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or higher, with winds over 111 mph.