ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Rafael continues to strengthen as it moves through the Caribbean.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Rafael is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday as it approaches the western side of Cuba. It has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and is moving northwest at 15 mph.
Rafael is about 105 miles east of Grand Cayman, according to the NHC.
[RELATED: Here’s when a tropical storm becomes a hurricane]
The National Hurricane Center said “steady to rapid intensification” is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours.
Models continue to show it maintaining hurricane intensity as it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, tracking well west of Florida.
Based on the latest track, the main impact to Florida will be added tropical moisture bringing pockets of heavy rain and a few isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.
Rain and storm chances by then increase from 50% to 60% with highs staying steady in the mid 80s.
By the end of the week, expect our winds to finally die down with slightly drier air working back into the area for Friday and Saturday (coverage 10%-20%).
This drier trend won’t last long though. An area highlighted with a low chance of tropical development as another possible surge of tropical moisture arrives later in the weekend.
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