Tropical Storm Rafael Moves Closer to Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Tropical storm Rafael is strengthening as it moves closer to Jamaica where the authorities are urging citizens to take all precautions including closing down schools and some business places.
“The safety of our students and educators is paramount. We are urging all schools to utilise online platforms where feasible so that learning can continue even as we prioritise safety,” Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon said following consultation with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
The government has already activated the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) amid fears that the storm will dump heavy rains islandwide, potentially leading to flooding and landslides.
The Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has cancelled flights from Kingston to New York and back as well as the service between St. Maarten and Kingston.
The airline said it is contacting affected passengers “who will be re-accomodated on recovery services”.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm was about 105 miles south west of Kingston and 265 miles south east of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.
It said a hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands, Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth, while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Jamaica and the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila
Rafael has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (mph) with higher gusts and is moving towards the northwest near 13 mph..
“A generally northwestward motion is anticipated over the next few days. On the forecast track, the storm is expected to move near Jamaica this morning, be near or over the Cayman Islands tonight, and be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday.”
The NHC said that steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours, and Rafael is forecast to become a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the Cayman Islands by this afternoon and are also expected in western Cuba and the Isle of Youth on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall will impact areas of the Western Caribbean through early Thursday, particularly across Jamaica and the Cayman Islands into southern and western portions of Cuba where rainfall totals between three to six inches are expected.
Isolated higher totals up to 10 inches are anticipated across the higher terrain in Jamaica and Cuba, which could lead to areas of flash flooding and mudslides.
“Minor coastal flooding is possible in Jamaica tonight. Storm surge could raise water levels by one to three feet above normal tide levels in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, and could raise water levels by as much as six to nine feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the southern coast of Cuba in the Hurricane Warning area, including the Isle of Youth.
“Swells generated by Rafael are expected to affect much of the western Caribbean during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC warned.
