Wednesday 10 PM Tropical Update: Hurricane Rafael Moves Away from Cuba, Still a Threat, and…
As of the latest 10 PM tropical update, Hurricane Rafael has officially moved away from Cuba after making its closest approach earlier today. The storm, which had intensified into a Category 3 system, is now moving over the warm waters of the Atlantic and is continuing to weaken, but remains a dangerous storm.
Current Conditions
- Wind Speed: 110 mph (Category 2)
- Location: Moving northeast at 10 mph
- Next Targets: Rafael is currently heading into the open waters of the Atlantic, with no immediate threat to land at this time. However, the storm is still expected to bring hazardous conditions to marine areas, including high waves and rough seas.
While Rafael is no longer a direct threat to Cuba, local authorities continue to monitor conditions, particularly the aftermath of heavy rains and storm surges in coastal regions.
Impact on Cuba
- Coastal Flooding: Areas along the western coast of Cuba are still dealing with residual flooding from storm surges.
- Rainfall: Heavy rains continue to affect parts of Cuba, leading to localised flooding and potential landslides in mountainous areas.
The Cuban government has begun assessing damage and deploying recovery teams to help affected regions.
As of the latest 10 PM update, Hurricane Rafael has officially passed Cuba and is moving into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm’s maximum sustained winds have weakened to 110 mph, dropping it to a Category 2 hurricane, but it’s still maintaining a significant presence.
Forecast for Rafael
- Movement: Heading northeast at 10 mph, Rafael is expected to continue weakening over the next 24-48 hours as it moves over cooler waters.
- Future Threat: While Rafael poses no immediate land threat, it may still bring dangerous rip currents and large swells along parts of the eastern U.S. coast and Bermuda.
