Tropical Storm Rafael Forms: Potential Threat to Cuba
As well as Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES – Tropical Storm Rafael formed on Monday in the Central Caribbean Sea. Its initially projected path would take it close to Jamaica on late Monday or early Tuesday and then strengthen to a hurricane before zeroing in the Cayman Islands and western Cuba by Wednesday afternoon.
The eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo has only recently begun to recover from hurricane Oscar which caused widespread destruction two weeks ago amid a nationwide power outage.
At 4:00 p.m. ET the National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami located the center of Rafael at 175 miles (280 kms) south of Kingston, Jamaica and 395 miles (635 kms) SE of Gran Cayman.
Rafael is moving on a north track at 9 mph (15 kph). Maximum sustained winds are currently 45 mph (75 kph).
The NHC shows a Hurricane warning is in place for the Cayman Islands.
Likewise, a Hurricane watch is already in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth.
A Tropical Storm is in effect for Jamaica where Rafael is expected to pass over or near late Monday or Tuesday morning.
Keep informed on Tropical Storm Rafael here on Havana Times.
As is reasonable, it is standard practice in Cuba to cut power just prior to a hurricane making landfall. Fallen live power lines as a result of high winds can pose as much of a danger to people as any other casualty of the hurricane. So another power outage is certain for central and western Cuba. The island can’t catch a break.