Elsa strengthens into first hurricane of Atlantic season

Elsa became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season as it moved through the Caribbean on Friday.

Elsa strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane in Barbados and will continue to move through the Caribbean and potentially heading toward Florida, The Associated Press reported.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the highest winds the hurricane has had have been 75 miles per hour.

The storm is currently heading to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“That level of sustained wind can blow down a lot of buildings and cause a lot of damage,” St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said. “I am pleading with you. Let us not take this hurricane lightly. This is not the time to play the fool.”

The hurricane is hitting St. Vincent only months after more than 20,000 people were displaced in the country due to a volcanic eruption.

Currently, a hurricane warning is in effect for St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados and the Grenadines with the storm most likely moving to the Dominican Republic and Haiti next, according to AP.

Elsa could move to Florida by Tuesday which officials say could further impede the search and rescue efforts of the Surfside building collapse.