Tropical Storm Erika formed on Monday night and will track toward the Leeward Islands through the middle of the week, AccuWeather predicts.

This system will be steered westward by a large dome of high pressure across the Atlantic during much of this week.

“This high is expected to guide Erika on a west-northwest course through Thursday,” said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Erika is currently located well east of the Leeward Islands but will be getting closer over the next two days.

“Erika will be moving through an environment with warm waters and generally low wind shear,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Robert Richards said.

Erika is predicted to move across the northern Caribbean as a strong tropical storm, but it could be as strong as a minimal Category 1 hurricane this weekend.

According to Kottlowski, the exact path this weekend into next week is uncertain at this time.

 

“All interests in the northeast Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and the Southeast United States should closely monitor the progression of this system,” Kottlowski said.