Tropical Storm Rafael takes aim at Caribbean, Jamaica & Cayman Islands brace for potential impact

Caribbean: Tropical Storm Rafael formed earlier today and after a period of intensification in the afternoon, it has taken a brief pause in further development.

According to the latest advisory, the system had a minimum central pressure of 996 mb along with 45 mph sustained winds and is moving towards the North-Northwest at a speed of 12 mph.

The experts said that the track forecast for the next 48 hours is pretty straightforward as the mid level ridging builds into the northeast of tropical storm Rafael, which will maintain the North-Northwest track while bringing the tropical storm on a close approach to the Caribbean island of Jamaica today while passing through the Cayman Islands by tonight and nearing the Caribbean coast of western Cuba on Wednesday.

It is further said that after the storm crosses Cuba and moves into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the track forecast will remain a challenge and the experts will be monitoring this newest Tropical System closely, prepared to deploy chasers if the need arises for a landfall in the United States.

The storm is forecasted to be of near hurricane intensity when it passes near or over the Cayman Islands by tonight where damaging hurricane force winds along with a dangerous storm surge and destructive waves are also anticipated.

Meanwhile, tropical storm conditions are expected in Jamaica today and tropical storm conditions are possible in the middle and lower Florida Keys, starting late Wednesday or during the night.

The forecasters noted that it is too soon to determine what, if any, effects Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast and the residents in this area are advised to regularly monitor updates to the forecast.

Moreover, this latest storm will bring heavy rain to parts of the western Caribbean, including Jamaica and Cuba, through midweek, where flooding and landslides are possible. Also, heavy rainfall will spread into Florida and nearby areas of the Southeast United States mid to late week.