The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storm Erin off the African coast. It is expected to gain strength.
"Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next several days," federal forecasters advise.
WWL TV Meteorologist Payton Malone says the system is looking well organized.
"This is our first big chance at a hurricane... major hurricane."
He says, however, it is still seven to ten days away from possibly getting into the Caribbean.
"It's way out there," Malone noted. "It's going to be traveling all week."
He says it could curve away from land in the Atlantic or make it to the US East Coast.
"The trends have been our friend in the Gulf."
Malone insists it's still too early to know if it will threaten land.