Tropical storm Rafael is seen in this satellite image north of Puerto Rico moving north-northwest. (Weather Underground/Associated Press)
All Sunday Montserrat was still feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Rafael which reports say was unleashing heavy rains over the Leeward Islands, which began on Friday night.
The storm was centered about 100 miles (165 kilometers) north-northwest of St. Martin at 8 a.m. EDT Sunday while gradually moving away from the Virgin Islands. Rafael had top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Rafael could become a hurricane by late Monday. Forecasters say interests in Bermuda should monitor Rafael’s progress as a tropical storm or hurricane watch may be required for Bermuda later Sunday.
A tropical storm warning has been discontinued for Anguilla. Earlier Sunday, a tropical storm watch was discontinued for Puerto Rico.
Forecasters said Rafael also raised the threat of dangerous surf.
This morning, while reports said there were no significant fall-out from the storm, fallen trees, in Montserrat, which had been publicized by the DMCA on Friday, the forecasters say Rafael is expected to reach hurricane strength in the Atlantic later Monday and by mid-week will bring rain to Atlantic Canada.
As of early Monday, the storm was 450 kilometres north of San Juan, Puerto Rico and had winds of 110 km/h as it moved north-northwest at 17 km/h.
Sustained winds were approaching hurricane status (119 km/h) and Rafael will likely be upgraded to a Category One storm during the day, forecasters said.
