TAMPA, Fla. — Tropical Storm Rafael has formed in the Caribbean and is moving north at 9 mph. According to the NHC, the system is expected to become a hurricane by Tuesday.
But what does that mean for the Tampa Bay area?
Here are ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips' thoughts from Monday morning:
Winds are now 45mph. 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. The bottom line is if this forecast is even close to accurate, the impacts on the Tampa 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.
Tracking the Tropics
November 4