Tropical Storm Maria strengthens into hurricane

FORT MYERS, Fla. Tropical Storm Maria strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Sunday evening, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Maria has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is moving west-northwest at 15 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The system is about 140 miles east-northeast of Barbados and about 275 miles east-southeast of Dominica.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat the National Hurricane Center.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Martinique, Antigua, Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Lucia, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, and Anguilla, the National Hurricane Center said.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barbados, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It’s unclear if the system will impact Southwest Florida.