Tropical Storm Rafael Could Form Today, Head Toward Florida

 

 

 

Tropical Storm Rafael Could Form Today, Head Toward Florida

 

The National Hurricane Center has forecast a possible tropical storm that could form today and head toward Florida.

 

The storm is known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 but will be named Storm Rafael if it intensifies into a tropical storm.

 

In its 10 p.m. ET advisory on Sunday, The National Hurricane Center reported that the current disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm on Monday night as it passes near Jamaica.

 

The forecast cone for Potential Tropical Cyclone 18. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

The low-pressure system is then forecast to become a hurricane in the Northwestern Caribbean by Tuesday as it hits the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba.

 

While the winds will likely not be hurricane-strength when they hit the U.S., it is warned that midweek the system will likely bring heavy rain across parts of the Western Caribbean, which could then spread northward into Florida and adjacent areas of the Southeast US.

 

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Newsweek has contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for comment.

 

In its advisory, the National Hurricane Center also warned that interests in the Florida Keys should keep a close eye on Rafael as hurricane and tropical storm watches could be needed across the Keys today.

 

developing pressure gradient” of Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 would likely result in “a windy stretch of days for South Florida with hazardous marine and beach conditions continuing.”