A hurricane watch has been issued for the Cayman Islands and a tropical storm warning issued for Jamaica, as a weather system in the Caribbean is expected to strengthen this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane centre reported that on the opposite side of the Atlantic, Patty transitioned from subtropical to a tropical storm located about 380 miles (615 kilometres) east of the Azores early Monday.
The storm system was expected to become a hurricane and could bring heavy rainfall to Cuba and Florida and possibly the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico later this week.
It was expected to be near Jamaica by late Monday and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the centre.
Heavy rainfall will affect the western Caribbean with totals of 3 to 6 inches (76 to 152 mm) and up to 9 inches (229 mm) expected locally in Jamaica and southern Cuba. Flooding and mudslides are possible in those nations.
