Dennis has been promoted. Now a Hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center issued a special update at 547pm EDT regarding the status of Dennis. He is now a weak Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. He is expected to strengthen further and could become the earliest major hurricane on record. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or higher with sustained winds above 111mph.

There are hurricane watches and warnings posted throughout the Caribbean and anyone with travel plans or family in the Southern Gulf Coast region of the United States should keep a close eye on Hurricane Dennis.

A special advisory just released by the NHC notes

RECON AND SATELLITE DATA INDICATE DENNIS HAS BECOME MUCH BETTER ORGANIZED DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS. IF THIS TREND CONTINUES INTO THIS EVENING...THEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT RAPID INTENSIFICATION COULD OCCUR FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS OR SO...AND DENNIS COULD REACH CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE STRENGTH BEFORE IT PASSES CLOSE TO JAMAICA IN 24 HOURS.

The latest info on Hurricane Dennis gives him a central pressure of 985mb and sustained winds of 80mph, a significant strengthening from this morning. Expect rapid growth in this storm as all signs point to it becoming very strong, very quickly. More info to come.