Officials in the northern Caribbean are warning of heavy rains and dangerous swells as Tropical Storm Erin approaches the region

Tropical Storm Erin has begun strengthening as it streaks west across the Atlantic and is on track to reach hurricane status as soon as Friday, prompting tropical storm watches in the northern Leeward Islands.

Tropical Storm Erin is on the cusp of strengthening into a hurricane, which it is expected to become later this Friday, as it bears down on the northern Caribbean islands.

Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened to a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards the Caribbean, with weather officials warning of possible flash floods and landslides."Erin is now a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane,

Erin is producing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a central pressure of 940 mb. The storm is moving west‑northwest at 14 mph (22 km/h). Outer rainbands have been producing gusty winds and heavy rainfall across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico since Saturday night.

Hurricane Erin gained strength Friday as it churned in the Atlantic Ocean and bore down on the Caribbean, where it could bring heavy rain to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.