Oct. 29 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Philippe formed near the Florida Keys on Saturday evening, bringing rains to the state and Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was located about 50 miles north of Havana and 75 miles southwest of Key West, Fla., as of the NHC’s 8 p.m. EDT advisory.
It was moving north at 28 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
There was a tropical storm warning in effect for the Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud), Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Villa Clara, Cuba, and the Northwestern Bahamas.
There was a tropical storm watch for the Central Bahamas, and from Craig Key to Golden Beach in Florida. The NHC said residents in the Cayman Islands should monitor the storm.
“On the forecast track, the center of Philippe will move through the Straits of Florida [on Friday] evening, and move across the Florida Keys or the southern tip of the Florida peninsula overnight, and across the northwestern Bahamas Sunday morning,” the NHC said.
The NHC forecasted rainfall for the Cayman Islands, western and central Cuba and Northwestern Bahamas (4-8 inches with maximum 10 inches possible); and South Florida and Florida Keys (2-4 inches with maximum 6 inches possible).
Philippe is the 16th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
