Hurricanes

The tropical cyclone is forecast to strengthen as it moves west toward the East Coast of the United States. Erika is expected to be just off the Florida coast by early Monday.

The storm, downgraded from a Category 3 hurricane to a tropical storm over the course of Saturday, is expected to continue to lose steam as it heads toward the the eastern Caribbean.

The storm, tracking westward toward the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean, now has sustained winds of nearly 75 mph.

A major hurricane hasn't hit the U.S. since 2005. There hasn't been a lull that long since 1861 to 1868 — when Abraham Lincoln was president.

The storm killed at least 6 people in Taiwan and has thrust millions into the dark. Some 1.4 million homes in China's Fujian province were evacuated ahead of its landfall.

Meteorologists say this year's hurricane season will be quieter than usual. But if a Category 3 or higher hit the U.S., it would be the first time since 2005, one of the worst years on record.

The agency also unveiled new forecast graphics that are more detailed and highlight threats posed by potentially deadly storm surges.

At least one person is dead and others still missing in Texas. Meanwhile, near Myrtle Beach, a weakening Ana has stormed ashore.

The first tropical storm of the Atlantic season arrives early, as Texas, Oklahoma and other states hope to avoid a repeat of devastating tornadoes that hit earlier this week.

A cool Atlantic Ocean and a mild-to-moderate El Niño in the Pacific equatorial region have forecasters predicting only four or five Atlantic hurricanes this year.

In the British island territory, Gonzalo has wiped out power to roughly half of the island's 70,000 inhabitants.

The hurricane will hit the British island territory, where residents are making preparations, later today as a Category 4 storm.