Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A caller tropical large wind was expected to shape Monday successful nan Caribbean and bring dense rainfall to Jamaica and nan Cayman Islands earlier strengthening to a hurricane and apt hitting Cuba, forecasters said.

The large wind would beryllium named Rafael. Later successful nan week it besides is expected to bring dense rainfall to Florida and portions of nan U.S. Southeast, according to nan U.S. National Hurricane Center successful Miami.

A tropical large wind informing was successful effect for Jamaica, and a hurricane watch was successful effect for nan Cayman Islands and for parts of Cuba including nan provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and nan Isle of Youth. A tropical large wind watch was issued for Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas successful Cuba.

“There is expanding assurance of dependable strengthening until nan strategy reaches Cuba aliases nan southeastern Gulf of Mexico,” nan halfway said.

The tropical slump connected Monday greeting was located astir 195 miles (310 kilometers) southbound of Kingston, Jamaica. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) while moving northbound astatine 9 mph (15 kph), nan halfway said.

The forecasted large wind was expected to move adjacent Jamaica by precocious Monday and beryllium adjacent aliases complete nan Cayman Islands precocious Tuesday into Wednesday. It could beryllium adjacent hurricane spot erstwhile it passes adjacent nan Cayman Islands.

The astir caller forecast shows nan disturbance could walk complete occidental Cuba connected Wednesday arsenic a hurricane. People successful Cuba and nan Florida Keys were among those urged to show nan disturbance arsenic it develops.

Most forecasts show nan imaginable large wind peaking arsenic a Category 1 hurricane, “but conditions complete nan adjacent fewer days will favour strengthening truthful we’ll request to show really quickly it organizes, and a stronger hurricane can’t beryllium ruled out,” wrote Michael Lowry, hurricane master and large wind surge expert, successful an study Monday.

On Monday morning, nan authorities of nan Cayman Islands offered group sandbags and announced schools would adjacent connected Tuesday.

“Residents are urged to return contiguous precautions to protect themselves and their properties,” nan authorities said successful a statement.

Meanwhile, nan Jamaica Observer newspaper reported a ample landslide successful a agrarian area northbound of nan Kingston superior connected Sunday that officials blamed connected persistent rains up of nan imaginable storm. No injuries were reported, but a mates of communities were near isolated.

Heavy rainfall will impact nan occidental Caribbean pinch totals of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) and up to 9 inches (23 cm) expected locally successful Jamaica and parts of Cuba. Flooding and mudslides are possible.

On nan other broadside of nan Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Patty dissipated.