( CNN ) -- A tropical storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Thursday in the Caribbean Sea , the National Hurricane Center said . Hurricane Paloma was centered about 165 miles south of Grand Cayman Island Thursday evening . Hurricane Paloma , packing winds of nearly 75 mph ( 121 kph ) , was centered about 165 miles ( 266 kilometers ) south of Grand Cayman Island at 7 p.m . ET , the hurricane center said . A hurricane warning -- meaning hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours -- remains in effect for the Cayman Islands . The storm was moving north at nearly 12 mph ( 19 kph ) , and it is expected to strengthen and turn gradually northeast late Friday and Saturday . The hurricane center said people in Cuba and Jamaica should monitor Paloma 's progress . The storm is expected to drop 4 to 8 inches of rain over the Caymans with isolated totals of as much as 12 inches possible . The storm was a tropical depression off Nicaragua on Wednesday . It became a tropical storm Thursday morning . Category 1 hurricanes have sustained winds of 74-95 mph .
NEW : This means the product will ship as received by the manufacturer, sealed, with all advertised components, and with the manufacturer warranty. NEW : Warning issued for Cayman Islands . NEW : People in Cuba , Jamaica should monitor storm 's progress , forecasters say .