Escambia County Actively Monitoring Tropical Storm Rafael

Escambia County residents are encouraged to monitor Tropical Storm Rafael, which is forecasted to be near hurricane intensity when it passes near or over the Cayman Islands by Tuesday evening, Nov. 5, according to the National Hurricane Center. The current forecast cone has the southwestern corner of Escambia County within the storm's track.

According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, Tropical Storm Rafael will move into the southeastern Gulf Wednesday night into Thursday. The system is expected to weaken Friday night as it moves towards the northwest or north-central Gulf Coast. Local impacts include dangerous rip currents and increasing surf along the Alabama and western Florida panhandle beaches into the weekend.

"The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season has been unpredictable, and although it's too soon to know what impacts Rafael could bring to Escambia County, we urge all residents to remain prepared," Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins said. "Remember, hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, so it's important to stay vigilant, be one week ready, and continue to follow trusted sources like Escambia County Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and our local media partners for the latest weather updates."

Residents can sign up for Alert Escambia emergency updates through the Emergency Management website.

With the possibility of localized flooding, one of the most important hurricane preparation steps Escambia County residents can take is to know their evacuation zone - either A, B, C, D, E or none. Look it up at MyEscambia.com/KnowYourZone.

More information on what to do before, during and after a storm is available online at MyEscambia.com/BeReady. You can also follow @BeReadyEscambia on Twitter, like Escambia County Emergency Management on Facebook, and follow @EscambiaBeReady on Instagram for the latest news and updates on emergencies impacting our community.

Tropical Storm Rafael Forecast Cone as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5