Rafael nears hurricane strength as it approaches Cayman Islands with sights set on Gulf of Mexico
Numerous tropical weather alerts have been issued across the region from the Caribbean to the Southeast in the U.S. A Tropical Storm Warning is posted for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, as well as for the Dry Tortugas.
Rafael nears hurricane strength as it approaches Cayman Islands
Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to intensify into a hurricane as it moves near or over the Cayman Islands overnight. Steady to rapid intensification is expected to continue through Wednesday as Rafael approaches western Cuba.
As of Tuesday evening, Tropical Storm Rafael has strengthened into Hurricane Rafael. Continuous coverage of Hurricane Rafael has moved here.
MIAMI – Tropical Storm Rafael is continuing to strengthen and remains on track to become a hurricane as parts of the Caribbean prepare to be battered by damaging, hurricane-force winds, flooding rain and a dangerous storm surge.
The late-season tropical storm had first been designated Tropical Depression Eighteen by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) before the system became better organized and developed enough of a center of circulation and high wind speeds to reach tropical storm status Monday afternoon.
TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL TRACKER: FORECAST CONE, SPAGHETTI PLOTS, MAPS, ALERTS AND MORE
Watch: Jamaica slammed with damaging winds, torrential rain from Tropical Storm Rafael
A video shared from Mandeville, Jamaica, shows the effects of Tropical Storm Rafael as the late-season storm battered the region. Strong winds, torrential rain and a potentially deadly storm surge is possible across parts of the western Caribbean.
The NHC said Rafael is situated in an atmospheric and oceanic environment that is "quite conducive for strengthening."
In addition, the NHC said that computer forecast models show there is a "significant chance" that Rafael could rapidly intensify as it approaches the Cayman Islands and Cuba.
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Watch: Rafael batters Jamaica with strong winds, torrential rain
A video shared from Mandeville, Jamaica, shows the effects of Tropical Storm Rafael as the late-season storm battered the region. Strong winds, torrential rain and a potentially deadly storm surge is possible across parts of the western Caribbean.
"Steady to rapid intensification is expected during the next 24 hours or so, and Rafael is expected to become a hurricane shortly as it passes near the Cayman Islands, with additional strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba," the NHC said in its forecast.
Where is Tropical Storm Rafael?
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Rafael is located about 25 miles southeast of Little Cayman and is moving to the northwest at 15 mph.
Rafael has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, and strengthening is expected to continue. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Cayman Islands overnight and are also expected in western Cuba by Wednesday.
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(FOX Weather)
Numerous tropical weather alerts have been issued across the region from the Caribbean to the Southeast in the U.S.
A Tropical Storm Warning is posted for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, as well as for the Dry Tortugas. A Tropical Storm Warning also remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands, as well as the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.
A Tropical Storm Watch is also in effect for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey and Las Tunas.
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What is the forecast for Tropical Storm Rafael?
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC, Rafael is expected to continue on a generally northwestward movement over the next few days. On that track, the tropical storm is expected to move near or over the Cayman Islands overnight, be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday and move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday night.
There are still some questions about what will happen next with Tropical Storm Rafael after it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, and those along the U.S. Gulf Coast should continue to monitor its progress.
"It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast," the NHC said. "Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast."
The NHC warns far southwestern Florida and the Keys could see tornadoes as Rafael makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico.
Governments and company leaders in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico are taking precautions ahead of any potential impacts from Rafael.
Chevron halted operations in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.
"In preparation for Tropical Storm Rafael, we are shutting-in production at our Chevron-operated Gulf of Mexico facilities and are transporting all associated personnel to shore," Chevron said in a statement. "At our onshore facilities, we are following our storm preparedness procedures and paying close attention to the forecast and track of the system."