Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to become a hurricane within the next 24 hours or so as it heads west-northwestward toward the continental U.S.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems in the Atlantic basin, including a new one moving into the Gulf.

Tropical Storm Erin sputtered in the open waters of the eastern Atlantic when it was wrapped in a veil of dry, dusty air from the Sahara, which limited the storm’s ability to strengthen. But it’s still set to become a hurricane by the weekend,