Please see the below update from the National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans / Baton Rouge and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) regarding Tropical Storm Rafael.
- Tropical Depression 18 has now been upgraded to Tropical Storm Rafael.
- Tropical Storm Rafael continues to strengthen and is forecast to approach Cuba as a hurricane. It will then reemerge into the Gulf on Wednesday and is expected to continue moving to the northwest approaching the northern Gulf in 4 to 5 days.
- There is lower than normal confidence in the track and intensity forecast beyond midweek. This will be dictated by how fast the forward motion is the next 2 days and how much high pressure over the western Atlantic and Florida can build west over the Gulf.
- It is too soon to say exactly what impacts this system could have on the local area as any potential impacts are still at least 4 to 5 days out and again will be highly dictated by how fast Rafael moves and strengthens in the next few days and how much of it is still intact as it moves into the north-central Gulf. Rafael should continue to be monitored.
