In the Gulf, Invest 98L has a low chance for development, before it moves inland over northeastern Mexico or southern Texas by late Friday. The National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas, said regardless of tropical development, locally heavy rain and increased swells "will be a concern" along the Texas coast.

Swells generated by Erin are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions in the Virgin Islands and Puerto by the weekend.

Tropical Storm Erin may near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before likely turning north as a hurricane, sparing the U.S.