ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Depression 18 officially strengthened into Tropical Storm Rafael on Monday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 7 p.m., Rafael had sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving north-northwest at 9 mph.
Rafael is about 150 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica.
On Monday, a hurricane watch was issued for western Cuba. A hurricane watch is also in effect for the Cayman Islands, and a tropical storm warning is being issued for Jamaica.
The storm is expected to move near Jamaica and strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall in Cuba as a category one hurricane. At this time, the center of the storm is expected to stay away from Central Florida, however, rain chances could increase mid-to-late week as the storm moves through the Gulf of Mexico.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two other areas in the tropics.
Tropical Storm Patty is quickly losing tropical characteristics on Monday as it approaches the coast of Portugal.
The third area is an area of low pressure that could develop near the northern Leeward Islands in a few days. Some slow development of this system is possible after that time as it moves westward. At this point there is a 20% chance of formation over the next seven days.
Hurricane season runs until Nov. 30.
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