The long-lasting area of interest in the western Caribbean has finally developed into Tropical Storm Rafael. It is expected to continue to develop slowly and may become a hurricane in the next day as it approaches the Cayman Islands and western Cuba. After that, it is expected to move NW into the Gulf of Mexico, where it is likely to weaken due to increased wind shear and less favorable ocean temperatures. The path of the storm or storm remnants after that is not clear but it is not likely to affect the Southeast with high winds but could provide moisture that will lead to significant flooding in central Georgia on Wednesday and Thursday (see related story today).
