Rafael intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday evening near the Cayman Islands. Forecasters say it could grow to Category 2 strength by Wednesday when it is to hit Cuba. Image courtesy of NOAA
Rafael continued to intensify on Tuesday night as it aimed to make landfall in Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane, forecasters said.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday update that the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was likely to rapidly intensify into a Category 2 hurricane before reaching Cuba on Wednesday. Advertisement
Forecasters placed the storm about 60 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman and about 275 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba.
It was moving northwest across the Caribbean at 13 mph.
The NHC had designated Rafael the 11th hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season at 7:20 p.m. EDT when it gained winds of 75 mph.
Forecasters expect the storm to pass by the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night. They said the Caribbean islands should expect to be lashed with damaging hurricane-force winds, a dangerous storm surge and destructive waves.
Rafael was expected to continue to strengthen before it reaches western Cuba on Wednesday afternoon, the forecasters said, adding that it could weaken while traveling over the island nation, but is expected to maintain hurricane strength when it enters the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night. Advertisement
“It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast,” the NHC said in a 4 p.m. discussion on the storm. “Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.”
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanza and the Isle of Youth.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to the west of the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas.
The Cuban provinces of Camagüey and Las Tunas are also under a tropical storm watch.
Forecasters warn that Rafael will bring “heavy rain” across portions of western Caribbean — including Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and portions of Cuba — through early Thursday. Totals of between 3 and 6 inches are expected, with some areas to receive as much as 10 inches.
Flash flooding and mudslides could occur, the NHC said.
Storm surges could raise water levels by as much as 3 feet above normal tide levels in areas in the Cayman Island on Tuesday and as much as 9 feet along the southern coast of Cuba. Advertisement
