Poorly organized Tropical Storm Rafael was classified yesterday evening and is located SSE of the Virgin Islands moving slowly to the WNW to NW. Strong south southwesterly windshear continues to displace convection to the northeast of the weak center. The system has a large convective shield displaced to the eastern semicircle and has more the resemblance of a strong tropical wave rather than a tropical cyclone. Movement over the Virgin Islands is likely on Saturday with the following Watches/Warnings in effect:

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
* BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
* ANGUILLA...BARBUDA...ST. KITTS... NEVIS...ANTIGUA...AND MONTSERRAT
* SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS...AND ST. MAARTIN
* ST. MARTIN
* GUADELOUPE...DESIRADE...LES SAINTES...MARIE GALANTE
* MARTINIQUE

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* PUERTO RICO...CULEBRA...AND VIEQUES

ED