UNITED STATES & PUERTO RICO - Hurricane Erin, the first of the Atlantic season, is continuing its track north of the Caribbean after strengthening late last week. As of the beginning of this week, forecasters say the storm could still reach major hurricane status in the coming days, though the likelihood of a direct U.S. landfall remains low.

According to The New York Times, the system is moving faster than a typical hurricane, which could influence how far west it travels before making its expected turn to the north. Meteorologist Judson Jones noted that “it has taken a few days, but Erin is now a hurricane with 75-mile-per-hour winds and is expected to strengthen over the weekend to a powerful and increasingly large hurricane.”

Even without a direct strike, coastal regions along the Atlantic could see heightened surf and heightened rip currents this week, and growers in affected areas are urged to keep watch as the storm’s track continues to evolve.

Check back with ANUK for the latest storm updates and potential industry impacts.