The fifth named storm of the season begins her run through the Caribbean and the current track has her heading to the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami figures Emily will become a hurricane.

After an incredibly brutal hurricane season last year, this one started off being quite nasty and looks like it will continue. Dennis, which reached class-4 hurricane status, still has remnants hovering over the Midwestern U.S., pouring desperately needed rain on to drought ridden areas.

Emily, located 475 miles east-southeast off the coast of Barbados, was moving west at about 20 miles an hour. The NHC expects a turn to the west-northwest direction in the next 24 hours. They forecast the storm to reach the Windward Islands sometime late on Wednesday.

Tropical storm warning and hurricanes watches have been issued for Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. Tobago and Martinique also picked up warnings.

Right now, winds are running at 50 mph with stronger gusts. A hurricane classification comes with sustained winds of 74 mph. The storm is projected to hit the U.S. mainland sometime next week. Oil traders are already feeling stomach cramps over Emily after they just recovered from Dennis.

Emily marks the earliest date on record a fifth named storm developed.

John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.