Tropical Storm Rafael 10 P.M. Update
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) -Tropical Storm Rafael continues to swirl in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. The winds have weakened to 45 mph and pressure has decreased to 1002 mb. Rafael is slowly churning northwest at 3 mph. Its track is fairly unchanged.
The slow churning, lingering tropical storm could bring life threatening rip currents to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Although the storm is far from land, a slow moving front passing through Louisiana has tapped into Rafael’s tropical moisture and Louisiana is receiving a significant amount of rainfall. Reports indicate some areas have received three to six inches and could receive another three to six inches overnight. Flash flood warnings are in effect for several parishes.
Rafael is expected to move in a tight clockwise loop, then head south-southwest toward Mexico. By Monday morning it will likely no longer be a tropical storm. Outside of secondary influences such as high surf, small craft advisories, rip currents and tropical moisture, it is not a threat to land. In the Suncoast there are no advisories, however, we may see another rip current statement released Sunday.
A disturbance near the Bahamas has a ten percent chance of development within two and seven days. The stormy area should bring heavy rain and wind to the Bahamas at the very least. It will be moving west into unfavorable conditions for development, which is good news for Floridians.
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