HOLT, Fla., July 22, 2020—The National Hurricane Center is now forecasting Tropical Storm Gonzalo to become a category 1 hurricane within the next 24 hours.

If so, it will become the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season.

Gonzalo is moving west at 14 mph and is expected to move near or over the southern Winward Islands this weekend.

A small tropical storm, Gonzalo’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 50 mph with higher gusts.

Additional strengthening is expected during the next couple of days with Gonzalo forecast to become a hurricane by tomorrow.

The NHC forecasts the storm to reach its peak strength 36-to-48 hours followed by weakening back to tropical storm strength.

The low pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to become a tropical depression in the next day or so as the system moves west-northwest, according to the NHC.

Two reconnaissance missions are flying in the storm this afternoon.

National Hurricane Center forecast