ORLANDO, Fla. -- The latest projected path of movement for Tropical Storm Fay shows the system moving along Florida as a Category 1 hurricane by Tuesday.

---

IMAGES: Projected Paths Of Movement

---

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Fay could weaken slightly Saturday morning. But the storm could regain strength, especially as it travels over warm water.

"The cone of projected movement is still about the same, so the National Hurricane Center is not putting a whole lot of faith in wobbling it one way or another," Local 6 meteorologist Tom Sorrells said. "None of this is good news for us as we are still on the ugly side of the storm."

The Hurricane Center jogged the path farther to the west as it moves north late Sunday night.

"That means it is going to stay over the water longer; hence it will become stronger as we roll our way toward Monday and Tuesday," Sorrells said.

Winds could reach 85 mph as it passes west of Central Florida Monday, according to the projected path.

Winds were expected to remain about 45 mph Saturday as it passes over the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

As the storm moves south of Cuba winds are expected to increase to 70 mph at 8 p.m. Sunday.

"It gathers strength," Sorrells said. "It comes right into Key West by Monday. By 8 p.m. Monday, this is going to be an ugly journey as a Category 1 hurricane comes past by Key West and up the gulf coast of Florida."

Fay is heading toward the west at about 14 mph. As of 5 a.m. EDT, maximum sustained winds were 45 mph with some higher gusting.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for parts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.