Tropical Storm Rafael forms over eastern Caribbean Sea

Tropical Storm Rafael formed over the eastern Caribbean Sea on Friday, triggering storm warnings for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and several other islands, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Rafael was centered about 125 miles (200 km) west-southwest of the island of Dominica and was moving north-northwest at 12 miles per hour (19 kph).

It had top sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was forecast to move on a northern path that posed no threat to the United States or the Gulf of Mexico, where US oil and gas operations are clustered.

Storm warnings were also issued for Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Guadeloupe and St. Lucia, alerting residents to expect storm conditions in some areas later Friday night.

The storm was expected to move east of Puerto Rico on Saturday and out over the open Atlantic Ocean.