tropical storm erika track Tropical Storm Erika FormsThe Atlantic storm season's fifth named system has developed in the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Erika has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with gradual strengthening in the forecast. The center of the storm is now 390 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, moving to the west-northwest at about 9 mph. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the northern Leeward Islands.

Tropical Storm Erika appears to be mimicking the path of Hurricanes Bill. Both storms drove to the north of the Bahamas and passed between the Carolina coast and Bermuda before turning northward, then dying off in the North Atlantic.

The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1st and will end on November 30th.

Thus far, 2009 has been one of the calmest beginnings to the hurricane season in nearly ten years, which scientists are attributing to the development of an El Nino effect in the Pacific.

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