Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean, expected to strengthen to hurricane

Source: CBS News/AP

Updated on: November 4, 2024 / 4:40 PM EST


The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed on Monday when a tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Rafael. It is forecast to bring heavy rains to Jamaica and hit Cuba as a hurricane later this week, the National Hurricane Center said.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands while a hurricane watch was issued for parts of Cuba as Rafael continued to move north. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica.


The projected path of Tropical Storm Rafael, which could become a hurricane this week. NOAA/National Hurricane Center

The hurricane center said in an advisory Monday that the system was expected to approach the northwestern part of Cuba around the time it reaches hurricane strength. "On the forecast track, the system is expected to move near Jamaica late tonight, be near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, and approach Cuba on Wednesday," forecasters said.

They wrote in an earlier advisory that the system "could be near or at hurricane intensity when it passes near the Cayman Islands and Cuba." As of 4 p.m. EST Monday, Rafael was about 175 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, moving northward at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, the center reported. Maximum sustained winds of 74 mph are needed for classification as a hurricane.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tropical-storm-rafael-potential-18-jamaica-cayman-islands/