Rafael Becomes Major Hurricane In The Caribbean

Hurricane Rafael was upgraded to “major” hurricane status as it approached the western coast of Cuba in the Caribbean on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Data showed the storm with 115 miles per hour sustained maximum winds, which put it in the Category 3 range on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Such a storm is considered a “major” hurricane with the potential to cause “devastating damage.”

2pm EST update on Category 3 Hurricane #Rafael as it closes in on western #Cuba

See https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for more information pic.twitter.com/eLWOAGz4L6

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2024

In the immediate future, Rafael was expected to bring “life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding to portions of western Cuba,” NHC said in a 1 p.m. ET bulletin. The agency said some strengthening was likely to happen before landfall over western Cuba in the afternoon.

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Just a couple of weeks ago, Cuba got hit by Hurricane Oscar as the island nation was grappling with a massive power outage.

NHC said Rafael is expected to weaken over Cuba before emerging into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Weather impacts in the forecast for the southeastern United States include tropical storm conditions in parts of the lower and middle Florida Keys into Wednesday evening.

Here are the 10 AM EST Wednesday Key Messages for Hurricane #Rafael. Life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding expected in portions of western Cuba. Follow the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/dg9rxQIgfD

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2024

Overall, rainfall in the Keys — an island chain extending southwest from the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula — was expected to total between one to three inches. NHC also warned of storm surge in the Dry Tortugas and lower Florida Keys, as well as the potential for tornadoes in the Keys and southwestern Florida mainland.

.@NOAA's #GOESEast satellite is continuing to monitor Hurricane #Rafael this morning, which is strengthening in the Caribbean Sea.

Latest advisories and updates: https://t.co/ScLdyBaJZb pic.twitter.com/VTLcGGfVDX

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) November 6, 2024

“Hurricane Rafael continues to intensify as it approaches western Cuba. Squalls will continue to pivot through the #FloridaKeys through tonight,” the National Weather Service emphasized in a post to X. “The best chance for tropical storm force winds will be this evening and overnight, especially in the Lower & Middle Keys.”

Hurricane Rafael continues to intensify as it approaches western Cuba. Squalls will continue to pivot through the #FloridaKeys through tonight. The best chance for tropical storm force winds will be this evening and overnight, especially in the Lower & Middle Keys. #FLwx #KeyWest pic.twitter.com/dl3Epo8j1y

— NWS Key West (@NWSKeyWest) November 6, 2024

The hurricane was expected to head farther west into the Gulf during the week and into the weekend, but NHC cautioned on Wednesday that it was “too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the western Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.”

A couple of major hurricanes slammed into the southeastern United States this year.

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in late September. And Hurricane Milton barreled through central Florida in October. Between the storms this hurricane season, the U.S. death toll is in the hundreds and the cost of the damage is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars.