There is growing confidence that Tropical Storm Erin will curve north early next week as it approaches the Caribbean and U.S. East Coast, potentially sparing those areas the worst impacts of what could be a powerful storm.

Erin will head toward warmer waters in the coming days, allowing it to strengthen into a hurricane late this week.

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