Tropical storm warning issued for Florida Keys as Rafael forecast to grow into hurricane
MIAMI - The lower and middle Florida Keys are under a tropical storm warning as Tropical Storm Rafael is forecast to grow steadily on a path for Cuba, where it's expected to arrive later in the week as a hurricane.
A tropical storm warning is also issued for portions of Cuba. A hurricane warning is in effect for parts of Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
Tuesday afternoon, Rafael was strengthening as it moved near Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. It was moving to the northwest at 15 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Rafael is expected to move near or over parts of the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night and be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday.
Rafael is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane as it passes near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before making landfall in Cuba.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of west-central Cuba and the lower and middle Florida Keys on Wednesday and Wednesday night.
On Tuesday, Monroe County Emergency Management urged people to stay off the water and roads, especially during squally conditions.
On Wednesday, schools will be closed.
Monroe County and City of Layton government offices will be closed on Wednesday. City of Key West offices are also closed on Wednesday. Other city operations will be normal.
No evacuations are planned. Garbage service throughout the Keys will operate as normal on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall was expected to spread north into Florida and elsewhere in the southeast U.S. by the middle or end of the week, with as much as 3 inches forecast for the lower and middle Florida Keys.
