Florida in crosshairs for 'powerful' Hurricane Dorian after system batters Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Tropical Storm Dorian strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday afternoon near the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

Residents there and in nearby Puerto Rico are facing heavy rain and strong winds, while forecasters are raising expectations for a Florida landfall this weekend for what may be a major hurricane event.

Dorian's center was near the island of St. Thomas when the National Hurricane Center announced the storm has sustained maximum winds at 75 miles per hour, enough to become a Category 1 hurricane according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.