Tropical Storm Maria became a Category 1 hurricane, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. The storm will impact the Caribbean, with several islands expected to cope with hurricane conditions by Tuesday or Wednesday. Many of the islands on the hurricane watch were battered by Hurricane Irma — a Category 5 storm — earlier this month.

Maria's winds are around 75 mph. By Monday afternoon, Maria is expected to strengthen to a Category 2, with winds around 105 mph. As she churns toward Puerto Rico, Maria’s winds will increase yet again, and she will likely become a Category 3 on Tuesday.

Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect for Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Anguilla, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

Along with several islands in the Caribbean, Maria could also affect the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by midweek as a dangerous major hurricane, according to the hurricane center.

To read our status report on dive resorts and shops impacted by Hurricane Irma — and how you can help local residents recover — visit the Hurricane Irma Update Report on our website.