Matthew strengthened into a hurricane Thursday in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hermine reached hurricane strength Thursday afternoon as it barreled toward the Gulf Coast of Florida, where it's expected to make landfall by early Friday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s updated outlook predicts 12 to 17 named storms, including five to eight hurricanes, two to four of which could be “major.”

Meteorologists are reporting that a tropical wave tracking through the Caribbean Sea this week will raise the potential for activity in the Atlantic Basin.

Meteorologists have linked the presence of Saharan Air Layer across the Atlantic Ocean, to the calm currently being experienced for this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.

Tropical Storm Colin made landfall in Florida, flooding major roadways, causing delays at major airports and forcing Governor Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency for over half the state.