TAMPA, Fla. — Depression has strengthened into Tropical Storm Rafael, according to the National Hurricane Center.
What You Need to Know:
- It is moving north near 9 mph.
- Sustained winds are currently at 45 mph.
- A Hurricane Watch is issued for parts of Cuba.
At 4 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said that Tropical Storm Rafael is moving at 9 mph. A more northwestward motion is expected on Monday night and is forecast to continue for the next few days.
On the forecast track, the NHC said the system is expected to move near Jamaica by late Monday and be near or over the Cayman Islands late Tuesday into Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are around 45 mph with higher gusts. The system is forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday
A Hurricane WARNING is in effect for:
- Cayman Islands
A Hurricane WATCH is in effect for:
- Cuba provinces of Villa Clara Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas
A Tropical Storm WARNING is in effect for:
- Jamaica
A Tropical Storm WATCH is in effect for:
- Cuba provinces of Villa Clara Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas
- Lower and middle Florida Keys
- Dry Tortugas
Remember Denis Phillips' Rule #7.
"Winds are now 45 mph so we now have a Tropical Storm. No changes to the track, although the NHC admits their confidence in the long range forecast is "lower than usual" as steering currents may collapse later in the week. Bottom line, if this forecast is even close to accurate, the impacts on the Bay Area will be minimal. There are always "what ifs" this far out, but at this point, we're good. Let's see how things play out over the next 24 to 48 hours," Phillips said.
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