NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AccuWeather, global leader in weather forecasting, warnings, data and information, is pleased to announce the acquisition of TOA Systems, Inc. lightning network and technology. TOA Systems, Inc. is a premier provider of lightning detection hardware and one of the few global lightning networks in existence. The announcement was made at the American Meteorological Society's Annual Meeting 2025 in New Orleans

Hurricane Rafael is not expected to hit the United States after beginning a more westward track, giving ports along the Gulf Coast a break from severe storms. Rafael slammed into Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, knocking out the island’s electrical grid and leaving 10 million people without power. The storm is expected to weaken Friday as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico.Swells from the storm are likely to be life-threatening along the Gulf Coast through the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said in a Friday update. Rafael will be the first hurricane this year in the Gulf of Mexico to avoid the U.S., AccuWeather meteorologists said Friday.The Southeast will see rainfall over the next few days from a cool front, AccuWeather said. Local flooding in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas is possible.Ports in Florida were monitoring Rafael earlier this week and braced for gale-force winds. Their operations continued as normal.So far this year, one tropical storm and five hurricanes have hit the U.S. Forecasters predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30

Hurricane Rafael is expected to take aim at the United States after making landfall in Cuba, but the storm’s possible intensity and damage to the U.S. coast remain unclear. Category 2 Rafael is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall in Cuba on Wednesday but is expected to weaken as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. Rafael currently has maximum sustained winds of about 100 mph. The Florida Keys could see 1 to 3 inches of rain and tornadoes Wednesday, the center said. AccuWeather forecasters say the Florida Keys could see 60 mph winds and 2 to 3 feet of storm surge. Florida ports were open Wednesday but on alert and monitoring the storm. SeaPort Manatee, the Port of St. Petersburg and Port Tampa Bay were set to port condition Whiskey on Monday, which means gale force winds were expected within 72 hours. Port Tampa Bay’s weather advisory group began monitoring the storm Monday.The Port of Key West was operating under X-Ray status as of Tuesday, meaning it expected to see gale force winds within 48 hours. AccuWeather predicts Rafael will lose intensity due to the cooler waters in the Gulf and wind shear. It remains unclear what path Rafael will take after moving into the Gulf, but forecasters say the greatest chance of a U.S