Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and could hit Cuba as a hurricane

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Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and could hit Cuba as a hurricane

2024-11-05 10:49 Last Updated At：10:50

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Rafael formed Monday in the Caribbean and will bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before strengthening into a hurricane and likely hitting Cuba, forecasters said.

Later in the week it also is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida and portions of the U.S. Southeast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica, and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands and for parts of Cuba including the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth. A tropical storm watch was issued for Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas in Cuba.

A tropical storm watch also was issued for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and for the Dry Tortugas.

The storm was located about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) while moving north-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), the center said.

The storm was expected to move near Jamaica late Monday, be near or over the Cayman Islands late Tuesday as a hurricane and approach Cuba on Wednesday.

Most forecasts show the storm peaking as a Category 1 hurricane, “but conditions over the next few days will favor strengthening so we’ll need to monitor how quickly it organizes, and a stronger hurricane can’t be ruled out,” wrote Michael Lowry, hurricane specialist and storm surge expert, in an analysis Monday.

On Monday morning, the government of the Cayman Islands offered people sandbags and announced schools would close on Tuesday.

“Residents are urged to take immediate precautions to protect themselves and their properties,” the government said in a statement.

Schools in Jamaica also were scheduled to close on Tuesday, with government offices closing on Monday afternoon.

Cuban authorities said Monday night that some 37,000 people remained under evacuation orders in far eastern Cuba, in the province of Guantanamo, due to bad weather.

The latest development comes on the heels of Tropical Storm Oscar, which dumped heavy rains in Cuba in October, leaving eight people dead and a widespread blackout across the island due to a collapse of the national energy system.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Observer newspaper reported a large landslide in a rural area north of the Kingston capital on Sunday that officials blamed on persistent rains ahead of the potential storm. No injuries were reported, but a couple of communities were left isolated.

Heavy rainfall will affect the western Caribbean with totals of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) and up to 9 inches (23 cm) expected locally in Jamaica and parts of Cuba. Flooding and mudslides are possible.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the season.

On the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Patty dissipated.

Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Giants will try to end the Colts playoff hopes and their franchise-record 10-game losing streak

2024-12-27 05:21 Last Updated At：05:30

Indianapolis (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Colts by 7 1/2.

Against the spread: Colts 9-6; Giants 4-11.

Series record: Colts lead 12-7.

Last meeting: Giants beat the Colts 38-10 on Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Last week: Colts beats Titans 38-30; Giants lost to Falcons 34-7.

Colts: overall (21), rush (8), pass (28), scoring (21)

Colts defense: overall (29), rush (28), pass (24), scoring (23)

Giants offense: overall (32), rush (22), pass (29), scoring (32)

Giants defense: overall (22), rush (31), pass (7), scoring (25)

Turnover differential: Colts minus-2; Giants minus-10.

DT DeForest Buckner had a tackle for a loss in his fifth straight game and had a pass defended against Tennessee. He has sacks in three of the past four games and is one of three players with seven or more sacks in each of the past six seasons. The Giants have allowed 18 sacks in the past five games.

WR Malik Nabers has 97 receptions, breaking the team record of 91, set by Odell Beckham in 2014 and matched by Saquon Barkley in 2018. Nabers needs three catches in the final two games to become the fifth rookie in NFL history with at least 100. Puka Nacua of the Rams set the league rookie record of 105 receptions last season, but Raiders tight end Brock Bowers also is in contention to break it with 101 catches this season.

Indianapolis broke a 68-year-old franchise record by rushing for 335 yards against the Titans. Look for the Colts to keep running the ball. Despite losing tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebacker Bobby Okereke to season-ending injuries last month, New York's run defense has gotten better with Elijah Chatman, Jordon Riley and Elijah Garcia in the middle. The Giants held Derrick Henry of the Ravens to 67 yards two weeks ago and Bijan Robinson of the Falcons to 94 last weekend.

Colts: QB Anthony Richardson (back, foot) missed practice Thursday. His status is uncertain, as is WR Alec Pierce (concussion) and LB E.J. Speed (knee) who were inactive last weekend. Coach Shane Steichen remains hopeful CB Jaylon Jones will play against New York after leaving last week's game with a throat injury.

Giants: LB Micah McFadden (neck), C John Michael Schmitz (ankle), CB Greg Stroman (shin-shoulder) and S Raheem Layne (knee) missed the first two days of practice. Nabers (toe) also missed the first two days but he usually finds a way to play.

The Colts had won four straight until the Giants snapped the streak in the 2022 season. The teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the Colts winning both. The most memorable game was the 1958 championship game which Baltimore won 23-17 in overtime on Alan Ameche's 1-yard run. It was the first NFL title game decided in OT. The Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in March 1984.

The Colts have alternated wins and losses each of the past five games. ... Indy is 3-5 on the road this season heading into its final game regular-season game outside Indianapolis. ... Richardson broke the Colts single-season record for TD runs by a quarterback (six) last week and he needs two more to pass Jacoby Brissett (11) for No. 5 on the franchise's career list. ... Only three players have more games with 100 yards rushing this season than Jonathan Taylor (six). He's also second on the franchise list with 53 total TDs over a player's first five seasons, trailing Hall of Fame RB Lenny Moore (55). ... Indy's defense has allowed 48 plays of 20 or more yards this season, the fifth fewest in the NFL. ... The Colts have allowed the fewest points (12) on opening possessions and are tied with Pittsburgh for the NFL lead with five red zone takeaways.

Giants: New York has lost a franchise-record 10 straight games and is 0-8 at MetLife Stadium. The only winless season at home was in 1974 when they played at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, while Giants Stadium was being built. ... RB Tyrone Tracy caught his first TD last weekend. He has rushed for five. ... Nabers' 97 catches are fifth in the league entering Week 17. Nabers and Tracy can become the NFL’s third pair of rookie teammates each with 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage. Tracy needs 16 yards and Nabers 29. ... WR Wan’Dale Robinson has a career-best 78 receptions. ... OLB Brian Burns has sacks in his past two home game. ... ILB Darius Muasau led the Giants with 11 combined tackles last weekend. ... S Dane Belton has had at least five tackles in three straight games.

Why not Taylor coming up big two weeks in a row. The Colts running back won the AFC offensive player of the week award rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans. He has 76 carries for 421 yards over the past three games and has his first 1,000-yard season since winning the 2021 rushing crown. The Giants are next to last stopping the run.

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