Caribbean region is currently facing significant weather threats as tropical storm and hurricane alerts have been issued for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The National Hurricane Center has identified a low-pressure system in the western Caribbean Sea, which is projected to evolve into Tropical Storm Rafael . As this system approaches, Jamaica is under a tropical storm warning, while a hurricane watch has been declared for the Cayman Islands. These alerts underscore the potential severity of the impending weather events.
The disturbance is being called Potential Tropical Cyclone Eighteen, a designation used by the National Hurricane Center to mark a system that has not yet met the criteria for a tropical depression or storm, but is expected to bring impacts to land within the 48-hour window that requires alerts to be issued.
Tropical Cyclone Eighteen has maximum sustained winds estimated to be 35 mph and is moving to the north at 6 mph. The disturbance sits 325 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica. The next name on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane list is Rafael.
The western Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands and parts of western Cuba, will see heavy rains, hurricane-force winds and storm surge, according to the NHC. But it’s too early to tell what impact the storm may have on the southeastern U.S.
“The system will bring areas of heavy rain across portions of the western Caribbean... through mid-week,” the update says. “Heavy rainfall could then spread northward into Florida and adjacent areas of the Southeast United States during the middle to late portions of the week.”
The National Hurricane Center said in its 10 p.m. ET advisory on Sunday that the system is expected to bring heavy rain across portions of the western Caribbean, including Jamaica and the southern and western portions of Cuba through mid-week. Flooding and mudslides are also possible in parts of Jamaica and Cuba.
Florida Keys to monitor the system into the week.
Forecasters say those with interests in the Florida Keys should monitor the latest information and advisories closely. “The system is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast as a tropical storm later this week, but given uncertainties in the long-range forecast, it is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts could occur,” the hurricane center says.
Air Force Hurricane Hunters are currently investigating this system and have two more missions planned in the next 24 hours.
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