At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located near latitude 10.0 North, longitude 47.0 West. Gonzalo is moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h).
A general westward motion at a faster forward speed is expected followed by a turn toward the west-northwest on Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Gonzalo would approach the Windward Islands late Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts.
Further strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Gonzalo is expected to become a hurricane later today.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center.