Storm Dean becomes first Atlantic hurricane of 2007

Tropical Storm Dean is seen in a satellite image taken August 16, 2007.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Tropical Storm Dean strengthened into the 2007 Atlantic storm season's first hurricane on Thursday as it revved up over warm waters and raced toward Caribbean islands, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The hurricane, with top sustained winds of 75 miles per hour by 5:00 a.m. EDT, was expected to strengthen further over coming days and could pass to the south of Jamaica on Monday as a Category 4 hurricane with 131 mph winds.