A new tropical storm, expected to be named Rafael, was forecasted to form in the Caribbean and bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before likely strengthening to a hurricane and hitting Cuba.
The storm was projected to move near Jamaica on Monday and over the Cayman Islands by Tuesday into Wednesday, possibly reaching hurricane strength.
The big picture: Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning for Jamaica, a hurricane watch for the Cayman Islands, and parts of Cuba, including specific provinces. A tropical storm watch was also issued for additional provinces in Cuba.
- The storm was located about 195 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph moving north at 9 mph on Monday morning.
- The storm was anticipated to impact western Cuba on Wednesday as a hurricane, with the potential to peak as a Category 1 hurricane, but the actual strength would depend on how it organizes over the next few days.
- The Cayman Islands government provided sandbags and announced school closures in preparation for the storm. Residents were urged to take immediate precautions to protect themselves and their properties.
- Persistent rains ahead of the storm caused a large landslide in a rural area north of Kingston, Jamaica, with communities left isolated. Heavy rainfall in the western Caribbean could lead to flooding and mudslides.
