The formation of Tropical Storm Erin near Cape Verde – an island nation in West Africa – was announced today by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States.

The storm is located about 455 kilometers west-northwest of the archipelago of Cape Verde, with winds estimated at 75 kilometers per hour.

Heading westward, Erin may develop into the first cyclone of this season in the Atlantic Ocean, with no firm assessment yet possible as to whether it may threaten the east coast of the United States.

The US National Weather Service (National Weather Service) has forecast 13-18 tropical storms this year in the Atlantic Ocean, of which about half (5-9) are expected to develop into cyclones.