It continues to push toward the northern Leeward Islands, where tropical storm watches are now in effect as of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Intensification is expected as Erin moves toward warmer ocean temperatures over the next several days.

The August weather might seem ideal for a beach trip, but Hurricane Erin will bring widespread danger in coming days.

Joe Salter, who as speaker of the state House helped then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco steer Louisiana through the immediate post-Hurricane Katrina period, offering a friendly, even-keeled demeanor during a stressful time, died Saturday. He was 82 and died in Baton Rouge from the spread of his kidney cancer.

Hurricane Erin is bringing heavy rain to the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday as the Category 5 storm moves through the Caribbean

Hurricane Erin has surged to Category 4 storm status and could bring dangerous surf and rip currents to the Jersey Shore next week as it remains far out to see.

Erin is the first hurricane to develop over the Atlantic this year, and meteorologists are closely tracking its path and forecast.

The longstanding hurricane rating system, the Saffir-Simpson Scale, only takes into account sustained wind speeds and not the full devastating impact of a hurricane.