Rafael, which was still a tropical storm on Tuesday, has become a hurricane and is passing the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Cuba is on its way, and it is expected to intensify and threaten severe flooding before reaching it. The weather in Florida worsened as the storm approached.
The element, still classified as a tropical storm, moved over western Jamaica on Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall. It has since strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane. It is moving northwest and is expected to reach western Cuba on Wednesday. It is currently passing over the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea, producing winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Rafael will “rapidly intensify” and become a Category 2 hurricane as it approaches western Cuba. The biggest risk is expected to be rains that cause flash floods and landslides. Current forecasts indicate that precipitation will range from 75 to 150 liters of water per square meter.
Evacuation of 70 thousand people
Cuban authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 70,000 residents on Monday. According to local civil defense authorities, cited by media linked to the Havana regime, the evacuation mainly concerns people who do not have the conditions to safely escape from a natural disaster.
Typhoon “Oscar” hit this Caribbean island on October 21 and caused the death of people. Cuba recently experienced a massive power outage that resulted in blackouts across the island.
Rain in Florida
The element may weaken briefly over Cuba but then regain strength as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, but it should not be as strong as Hurricanes Helen and Milton in September and October, the NHC forecast.
Officials are monitoring the storm's impact on coastal conditions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas early next week. Florida is expected to feel the storm's closest track on Wednesday. Heavy rains occurred in the south of this US state and in the Florida Keys archipelago.
Hurricane RafaelNHC forecast track
Reuters, CNN, tvnmeteo.pl
Main image source: NHC
