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

A system in the Gulf of America could bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to portions of Florida as it moves onshore.

The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.