KINGSTON, Jamaica - Tropical Storm Rafael is dumping heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds on the Leeward Islands.

At 4:00 am the centre of Rafael was located near Latitude 19.4 degrees north and Longitude 63.8 degrees west or about 160 kilometres north northwest of St. Martin, the Meteorological Office said.

Rafael is moving towards the north-northwest near 20 km/h and this general motion is forecast to continue today. A turn toward the north is expected on Monday.

On the forecast track, the centre of Rafael will continue to move away from the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands.

Maximum sustained winds remained near 85 km/h with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Rafael could become a hurricane by Monday.

Tropical Storm Rafael is not a threat to Jamaica.