The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated in its latest advisory that Hurricane Rafael, after causing significant damage in several provinces of Cuba, is moving away from the country, although heavy rainfall will continue.
The NHC reported on social media platform X that “Rafael will continue to bring periods of heavy rainfall to the west of Cuba today. Flash flooding and landslides are possible in higher terrain.”
Additionally, it was noted that the hurricane will move slowly over the central southern Gulf of Mexico this weekend and into early next week.
"The interests in the southern and southwestern Gulf of Mexico should monitor the progress of this system," noted the NHC.
The feeder bands of Hurricane Rafael are still causing unstable weather conditions in the western part of Cuba.
As it passed through Artemisa, it caused destroyed homes, flooding, and damage to infrastructure.
In Havana, there were some effects such as landslides and flooding, in addition to thousands of people still in evacuation centers.
In these provinces, as well as the rest of Cuba, a new collapse of the National Electric System occurred, impacting millions of affected households.
On the other hand, the monitoring center reported on its website that it is currently tracking a low-pressure trough located over the northern part of the Windward Islands, which continues to produce scattered rain and thunderstorms.
It was indicated that there is a possibility of gradual development of this system in the coming days as it moves westward, near the Greater Antilles.
The likelihood of this system forming in the next 48 hours is low, at 20 percent, and it remains the same percentage for the following seven days.
Additionally, it was noted that regardless of its development, heavy rains are expected in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the southeast Bahamas until Saturday.
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