The Atlantic Basin now has its earliest “G” named storm on record after the National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on Gonzalo around 9 a.m. Eastern Time Wednesday. Gonzalo is forecast to be the first hurricane in the Atlantic 2020 season.

The National Hurricane Center cited satellite data as a source of evidence of Gonzalo’s uptick in strength, after spending less than a day as a tropical depression.

The storm is just over 1200 miles east of the Southern Windward Islands, moving to the west at 14 miles per hour and producing winds up to 50mph.

Gonzalo is expected to strengthen to a category 1 hurricane as it moves toward the Windward Islands. Dry air and large scale sinking (subsidence) in the atmosphere could limit the storm’s potential into the weekend however, as it is currently forecast to impact the Southern Windward Islands between Saturday and Sunday as a strong tropical storm. The islands could see direct impacts from winds and heavy rainfall.

Intensity forecasts can vary greatly however, so interests in the Windward and Leeward Islands should prepare for potential hurricane force impacts, particularly in the Southern and Central Windward Islands, where most models take the center of the storm.

This article will be updated as new forecast data and information becomes available.