Weather
Tropical Storm Erika forms
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By Curtis Morgan
The Miami Herald
Posted - Thursday, September 17, 2009 11:52 AM EDT
Possible path of Tropical Storm Erika
Tropical Storm Erika formed Tuesday off the Leeward Islands on a path that could put it somewhere near the Bahamas by Sunday.
From there, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said, the path was uncertain and may depend on how strong the system becomes.
Computer models took a more powerful Erika, possibly at hurricane strength, more to the northwest and well off the Florida coast. A weaker storm might continue meandering west, potentially putting South Florida or the rest of the state in the ``cone'' in the next few days.
At 5 p.m., Erika was about 390 miles east of the Leeward Islands with maximum winds at 50 mph. Tropical storm watches were posted for many of the northern Leewards, but on its projected track, its core was expected to skirt to the north of them and possibly spare Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands the worst winds as well.
