Hurricanes are the most powerful storms on Earth, but are often steered around the globe by just a gentle breeze.

On average, the fourth named storm of the year forms by Aug. 15; the first hurricane by Aug. 11. But last year, Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record, was supercharged by excessively warm ocean temperatures that gave the season a violent start.

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later this week in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.