The National Weather Service

Satellite images indicate that the tropical depression in the tropical Atlantic has intensified and is now Tropical Storm Maria.

It is the 13th named storm of the 2011 hurricane season. The center of Tropical Storm Maria was located near latitude 13.0 north and longitude 420 west. Maria is moving toward teh west at near 23 mph and this general motion is expected to continue during the next two days.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible within the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the storm's center, mainly to the north of the center.