The first area has been under the eyes of the National Hurricane Center for a few days as it emerged off Africa’s west coast.

WILLIAMSBURG — Hurricane Erin is churning in the Atlantic Ocean, and while forecasts indicate the impact on the area may be limited, it serves as a reminder that preparing for a potential storm in the future is crucial.

The storm has already prompted evacuation orders on North Carolina's Outer Banks and warnings about dangerous rip currents and swells along the East Coast.

A new system has emerged in the eastern tropical Atlantic, heading westward toward the Leeward Islands as Hurricane Erin continues to spin.

Hurricane Erin lashes Bahamas and Turks and Caicos with winds, rain, and flooding as forecasters track a new Atlantic tropical threat.

“Some gradual development of this system is possible during hte middle to latter portion of thw eeek while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across teh eastern and central tropical Atlantic,” the hurricane center said.

Forecasters are tracking a new disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean as Hurricane Erin, a Category 5 storm, undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle, according to a Saturday night update from the National Hurricane Center.