Tropical Storm Erin, now spinning far out in the central Atlantic Ocean, could undergo rapid intensification into a powerful 125-mph hurricane. According to Direct Weather's forecast, ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain may see less snow than usual.

Jean-Raymond Bidlot, senior scientist in ocean modeling at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) told Newsweek that Erin is forecast to strengthen over the next week as it heads toward the U.S. East Coast, reaching peak intensity offshore from Cape Hatteras.

Erin developed in the eastern Atlantic, moving westward from the Cabo Verde Islands at about 20 mph (32 km/h). Infrared sensors on NOAA's GOES-19 satellite reveal colder cloud tops and deep convection near the center — signs of a strengthening system feeding on warm ocean waters.

Looking map across the Atlantic here this morning and no name storms still that likely won't last much longer. In fact, by the time you're watching this, the area in red may already be declared *** tropical depression,

Hurricane forecasters were eyeing two developing tropical systems in the Atlantic Ocean Aug. 10 – one of which could pose an eventual risk to the United States.