MIAMI, FL (352today.com) – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced on Monday that Tropical Storm Rafael has formed in the Caribbean, situated approximately 175 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica.
With maximum sustained winds at 45 mph and a central pressure of 997 mb, Rafael intensified from a tropical depression to a named storm. The system is expected to pass near Jamaica late Monday, moving near or over the Cayman Islands by Tuesday and Wednesday.
The NHC forecasts that Rafael could strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane before approaching parts of Cuba and then entering the Gulf of Mexico. Currently, hurricane warnings are in effect for the Cayman Islands, while Jamaica remains under a tropical storm warning. Tropical storm watches are also active for the lower and middle Florida Keys.
Although North Central Florida is not projected to experience significant impacts, the 352 may see heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday as Rafael’s moisture spreads. The storm’s track in the Gulf remains uncertain, though early models hint at a westward turn away from Florida.