Weather system still affecting St. Kitts and Nevis

ZIZ News…Oct 15, 2012 — The weather system left behind by Raphael is still affecting St. Kitts and Nevis and the Leeward Islands.

Residents are experiencing heavy rainfall and rough seas in various areas. A senior education official called into ZIZ Radio this morning announcing that all schools are closed until tomorrow Tuesday because of the blockage of roads in some areas and the condition of some of the schools following the heavy rain.

Meanwhile the latest weather forecast states that the center of tropical storm Rafael was located near latitude 22.5 North…longitude 65.5 West.

Rafael is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph…15 km/h and this general motion is expected to continue this morning followed by a turn toward the North this afternoon or evening. On the forecast track the center of Rafael will remain well east of the Bahamas today…and could approach Bermuda by late today Tuesday.

Data from an air force reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that Rafael is near hurricane strength and maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph…110 km/h…with higher gusts strengthening is forecast and Rafael is expected to become a hurricane today.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles…280 km from the center.