Tropical Tracker: Matthew strengthens to Category 1 hurricane

Forecasters in Miami say Tropical Storm Matthew has strengthened into a hurricane as the storm continues its westward trek across the eastern Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center said Matthew, previously a tropical storm, now has top sustained winds of 75 mph as of Thursday afternoon. It is moving westward at 17 mph (28 kph) and is centered about 190 miles (300 kilometers) northeast of the island of Curacao.

Here is the latest track from the National Hurricane Center:

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Curacao and the islands of Bonaire and Aruba. Forecasters say people along the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia should be among those who are watching the progress of the storm.

This interactive map allows you to see the real-time status of Matthew: