Hurricane Rafael Strengthens to Category 2

Hurricane Rafael has intensified into a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph and is expected to make landfall in western Cuba later today. The storm is currently located 90 miles southeast of the Isle of Youth and is moving northwest at 14 mph, with forecasts indicating possible near-major hurricane status before landfall due to favorable conditions. Residents in the Florida Keys are under tropical storm warnings, anticipating heavy rain and gusty winds, though the storm will miss mainland Florida by over 350 miles. After crossing Cuba, Rafael is projected to enter the southeastern Gulf of Mexico but will likely weaken due to cooler waters and increased wind shear. The storm is forecasted to make landfall in Louisiana or Mississippi this weekend, marking a rare occurrence for a tropical system in November. Rafael is the 17th named storm and 11th hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.