Cuban Institute of Meteorology reports in its Tropical Cyclone Warning No. 4 that during the early hours of this morning, tropical storm Rafael, located in the central Caribbean Sea has gained in organization and intensity.

Maximum sustained winds increased to 95 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts, the minimum central pressure dropped to 993 hectoPascal.

At 6 a.m. the central region of the Tropical Storm was estimated at 17.3 degrees North latitude and 77.8 degrees West longitude, a position that places it about 160 kilometers southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, 405 kilometers southeast of Grand Cayman Island and 670 kilometers southeast of Punta del Este, Isle of Youth.
It moves with a course close to the northwest with a translation speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

In the next 12 to 24 hours this system will continue moving with a similar direction and speed of translation, approaching the vicinity of Jamaica.

During its movement, it will continue gaining in organization and intensity and could reach the category of hurricane near the Cayman Islands. Rainfall, showers and thunderstorms will continue in the eastern and central regions, which could be heavy and intense in some locations.

Rainfall will later extend to western Cuba. The effects of wind and sea in the different regions of the country will depend on the trajectory and intensity reached by this tropical cyclonic body.

Taking into account the current position and future trajectory of this system, the greatest attention should be paid to its evolution, the possible impacts on the national territory and the information issued by the Forecast Center of the Meteorological Institute.