Tropical storm Rafael is on the verge of becoming a hurricane as it moves toward the western part of Cuba

The Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) alerted in its latest bulletin that Tropical Storm Rafael, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour, is on the verge of becoming a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

In the sixth tropical cyclone advisory, INSMET indicated that during the afternoon, Rafael has gained organization and intensity, nearing hurricane threshold, which occurs when a hydrometeorological phenomenon reaches sustained maximum winds of at least 119 kilometers per hour.

He noted that the minimum central pressure has dropped to 989 hPa, and its center is located at 19.5 degrees North latitude and 79.9 degrees West longitude, situated near the Cayman Islands and 360 kilometers southeast of Punta del Este, Isle of Youth.

It was mentioned that the system is moving in a northwest direction and has increased its translational speed to 24 kilometers per hour.

In the next 12 to 24 hours, it is expected to continue its movement on a similar course and speed, with the potential to reach hurricane strength as it moves over the waters near the Cayman Islands.

The precipitation, which has already affected the eastern and central regions of the country, will extend during the night and early morning to the western part of Cuba, bringing heavy rain with totals between 100 and 200 millimeters in 24 hours in some areas, noted INSMET.

In addition, the east to southeast winds in the west and center will progressively increase in intensity, with gusts that could exceed 100 kilometers per hour starting tomorrow afternoon.

The central and western southern coast will experience strong swells and moderate to severe coastal flooding, impacting provinces such as Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and the Isle of Youth, as well as the Canarreos archipelago.

Due to the imminent danger, starting at 5:00 p.m. this Tuesday, the Cuban Civil Defense General Staff decided to establish the alert phase for the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Sancti Spíritus, due to the possibility of being directly affected by tropical storm Rafael.

Informative note number three, published on the social network X, states that during the morning of this Tuesday, Rafael has shown better organization, although he has not experienced a significant change in his intensity.

Starting at 3:00 p.m. this Monday, the State Major of Civil Defense of Cuba decided to establish the alert phase for the provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, due to the possibility of being directly affected by the hydrometeorological phenomenon.

The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel asserted on Tuesday that the country is "prepared and organized" to confront this new danger, a statement that contrasts sharply with the harsh reality of government management during the recent crisis.