Tropical Storm Rafael forecast to become hurricane before entering Gulf of Mexico; alerts issued in Florida
For the U.S., the Florida Keys are on alert for tropical storm conditions as soon as Wednesday, as Rafael gets set to enter the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical storm alerts issued in Florida as Rafael forecast to become a hurricane
Parts of the Florida Keys are under tropical storm alerts as Rafael is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea before tracking north into the Gulf of Mexico.
MIAMI – Millions of people from the Caribbean to the U.S. Gulf Coast are keeping their eyes on Tropical Storm Rafael as the system becomes better organized and is forecast to become a hurricane within the next day or so.
The tropical storm had been designated Tropical Depression Eighteen by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) before it developed enough of a center of circulation and wind speeds to reach tropical storm status Monday afternoon.
For the U.S., the Florida Keys are on alert for tropical storm conditions as soon as Wednesday, as Rafael gets set to enter the Gulf of Mexico.
"It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast," the NHC said.
Where is Tropical Storm Rafael?
Tropical Storm Rafael is about 150 miles from Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum wind speeds of 45 mph.
It is moving toward the north-northwest at 9 mph, according to the NHC.
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Rafael is forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday as it approaches the Cayman Islands. Before it gets there, tropical storm conditions are expected in Jamaica overnight and into Tuesday morning.
Due to the potential threats that Tropical Storm Rafael poses, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the lower and middle Florida Keys, from Key West to the west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and for the Dry Tortugas.
Jamaica is under a Tropical Storm Warning.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands, while the Cuban provinces Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth are under a Hurricane Watch.
What is the forecast for Tropical Storm Rafael?
According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Rafael will make a turn to the northwest overnight. That motion is expected to continue for the next few days. Rafael will move near Jamaica overnight and be near or over the Cayman Islands by late Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Rafael is then expected to approach Cuba on Wednesday.