Storm Erin becomes the first hurricane of the Atlantic season

Miami.- The tropical storm Erin became the first hurricane of the season this Friday and threatens with heavy rains and storm surges to the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, reported the National Hurricane Center (NHC, in English) of the United States. The system is located about 740 kilometers (460 miles) east of the Northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) and is moving west-northwest at 30 kilometers per hour (18 miles per hour).

Authorities are maintaining a tropical storm watch for Anguilla and Barbuda, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, Saba and Sint Eustatius, as well as Sint Maarten.

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This means that in those areas, conditions of tropical storm are possible within 48 hours, as the cyclone approaches on Saturday, passing near or north of the Northern Leeward Islands.