Tropical Storm Paloma can be seen gaining strength off the coast of Honduras on Thursday afternoon.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami cautioned countries in the western Carribean on Thursday to be prepared for Tropical Storm Paloma to reach hurricane strength by the weekend.
The storm formed from a cluster of thunderstorms off the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras on Thursday morning, then began a slow northerly movement away from Central America while strengthening.
But long-range outlooks indicate the Paloma will skirt the Cayman Islands then strike central Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane over the weekend.
On that course, the storm should not affect any oil platforms at sea or refineries in the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean.
Tropical Storm Paloma Track
Satellite Loop: University of Wisconsin