Tropical depression strengthens into TS Rafael – Met Service

The Meteorological Service is reporting that a tropical storm warning remains in effect as the tropical depression over the south-central Caribbean Sea has now developed into Tropical Storm Rafael.

According to the Met Service in its latest bulletin, tropical storm conditions are expected to affect Jamaica within the next six to 12 hours.

At 4pm on Monday, the centre of Tropical Storm Rafael was located near latitude 15.5 degrees North, longitude 76.7 degrees West. This is about 280 kilometres (200 miles) south of Kingston, Jamaica or 355 kilometres (221 miles) southeast of Negril Point, Jamaica.

The storm is moving toward the north near 15 km/h (9 mph), and a north-westward motion is expected to begin late Monday night, and is forecast to continue for the next few days, the Met Service said.

Additionally, maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 km/h (45 mph) with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is now forecasted, and the system is projected to become a hurricane on Tuesday.

On the forecast track, Rafael is expected to continue moving towards Jamaica on Monday evening, and be near Jamaica by late tonight or early on Tuesday, near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night, and approaching Cuba on Wednesday.

"Moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms are currently affecting sections of most parishes, and the rainfall is expected to become widespread across the island as the system approaches Jamaica from the south," the Met Service indicated.

"As the rain continues, flooding and landslides are possible in vulnerable sections of the island. Observations indicate that periods of strong gusty winds are affecting sections of southern parishes, and this is forecast to extend to the remainder of the island throughout the night," the local weather agency added.

Over the marine areas, the forecast is for widespread showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, with strong gusty winds up to tropical storm force to affect all marine zones on Monday evening and into Tuesday, especially inshore and offshore the south coast.

On that score, all small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, should by now have completed all the necessary safety precautions, and are advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.

The Met Service said it will continue to monitor the progress of the tropical storm.