MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Erin is nearing hurricane strength and is now forecast to reach Category 4 status by early next week.

At 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Erin was located near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 56.1 West. Erin is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph.

This motion is expected to continue into the weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend.

Reports from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts.

Steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next two to three days, and Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane during the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles mainly to the north of the center.

The latest minimum central pressure reported by the NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 996 mb.

Erin will likely make its closest pass to the Carolinas next Wednesday or Thursday. The latest forecast models show the potentially large and powerful hurricane passing 400 to 600 miles off shore of the Grand Strand.

Erin is expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend across the northernmost Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as southern and eastern Puerto Rico. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated totals of 6 inches, are expected. This rainfall may lead to isolated flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides.

Erin will be far enough off shore for the region to experience any impacts from rain and wind. However, large, pounding waves and dangerous rip currents will be likely for much of next week.

Minor coastal flooding may also develop around the time of high tides through next Wednesday and Thursday.