A cyclone brewing in the Caribbean will likely become Tropical Storm Rafael as it heads northwest toward Cuba. The strengthening storm did not pose an immediate threat to Beaufort County and the rest of the East Coast.

But landfall in the central Gulf Coast could bring large amounts of rain to the Hilton Head Island area due to moisture being pushed across Florida and the southeastern U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center. “Heavy rainfall” is expected in these areas from mid-week.

The chance of rain is highest in Beaufort on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters say, but skies should clear in time for the weekend. Despite a 30% chance of showers on Election Day morning, the outlook is mostly sunny, with temperatures likely to reach well above 70 degrees.

With winds around 56 km/h and steadily strengthening Tropical Depression 18 is expected to become a tropical storm on Monday and a hurricane on Wednesday. Models show the storm passed Jamaica on Wednesday, hovered over the Cayman Islands later that day and reached western Cuba on Wednesday. The storm could make landfall early Saturday between Louisiana and the western edge of the Florida panhandle, but dry air and cooler water temperatures could cause the storm to weaken as it continues north.

Hurricane season ends on November 30, although tropical activity often continues into December. Experts predicted an above-average season in 2024 that would bring more than 20 named storms. Rafael would be the 17th named storm of 2024, already higher than the average of 14 per season.

Weekly forecast for Beaufort, SC

Tuesday: 30 percent chance of showers, especially before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80 degrees. East wind 11 to 16 km/hour.

Wednesday: 30 percent chance of showers, especially after 1 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 6 to 9 mph.

Thursday: Rain showers likely, especially after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.