Tropical Storm Rafael Moves Over Eastern Caribbean

Tropical Storm Rafael is bringing heavy rains to the lesser Antilles islands as it makes its way across the eastern Caribbean Sea, where tropical storm warnings have been issued.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that the storm is 185 miles (298 kilometers)south-southeast of St Croix, with top sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph). It is moving north-northwest at 10 mph (16 kph).

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands as well as for Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, St. Maartin, Martinique and St. Lucia.

Puerto Rico is under a tropical storm watch.

The storm's center will move through the eastern Caribbean on Friday night and then move near or over the Virgin Islands on Saturday night. Meanwhile Patty, now a tropical depression, was 265 miles (426 kilometers) east-northeast of the central Bahamas and stationary.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)