Barbuda is under a tropical storm watch issued by the government of Antigua and Barbuda as Tropical Storm Erin moves closer to the northern Leeward Islands.

France has issued watches for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, the Netherlands for Saba and St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten authorities for Sint Maarten.

A tropical storm watch means sustained winds of 39–73mph (63–118km/h) are possible within 48 hours.

At 17:00 AST (21:00 GMT), Erin was centred near latitude 16.7°N, longitude 51.2°W, moving west at 17mph (28km/h). The storm is expected to shift to a west-northwest track tonight, with its centre projected to pass near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60mph (95km/h), with higher gusts. Forecasters expect Erin to strengthen into a hurricane by Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95km) from the centre, and the minimum central pressure is estimated at 998mb (29.47in).