Rafael intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Friday evening, the National Hurricane Center said.
Rafael currently has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is moving northwest at 15 mph. The storm is located about 20 miles southeast of Little Cayman and about 305 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba.
Rafael is now officially a hurricane with 75mph winds. The NHC keeps the storm west of Key West as a Category 1 late Wednesday night, but tropical storm conditions are likely in the Lower & Middle Keys Wednesday into early Thursday. @nbc6 #nbc6 #hurricanerafael pic.twitter.com/V9DHMdKVKh
— Steve MacLaughlin (@SteveMacNBC6) November 6, 2024
A tropical storm warning was issued for portions of the Florida Keys Tuesday as Rafael was moving past Jamaica on a path toward Cuba where forecasters expected it to hit as a hurricane on Wednesday.
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The tropical storm warning was in effect for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and for the Dry Tortugas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the lower and middle Keys. This means tropical storm conditions are likely within the next 36 hours in the warned area. Stay with @nbc6https://t.co/PKdbgxwLAa pic.twitter.com/rf45pKg078
— Adam Berg (@AdamBergNBC6) November 5, 2024
"Steady to rapid intensification is expected during the next 24 to 36 hours, and Rafael is expected to become a hurricane as it passes near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba," the NHC said Tuesday afternoon, before it officially became a hurricane at around 7:20 p.m.
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This has also prompted hurricane warnings for the Cayman Islands and portions of Cuba.
The Cayman Islands could see hurricane-force winds as early as Tuesday evening with Cuba feeling hurricane conditions later on Wednesday. Look for heavy rain and some storm surge as well.
Impact on South Florida
A few tornadoes are possible Wednesday over the Keys and far southwestern Florida mainland, the NHC said.
South Florida will see gusts to tropical storm strength right into early Thursday with the strongest winds likely to hit the lower and middle Keys. It wouldn't be surprising to see gusts over 50 there Wednesday into early Thursday.
Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are also expected for the lower and middle Florida Keys. Some minor storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible across portions of the Keys as well.
As far as rain is concerned, South Floridians can expected scattered showers for Tuesday but Wednesday could bring a few severe storms, especially across the lower Keys.
South Florida's weather improves dramatically by late Thursday with a tranquil weekend on tap as Rafael slowly spins down somewhere in the central/northern Gulf.
