Tropical Storm Rafael spins toward the Cayman Islands as Cuba prepares for hurricane hit

Newsweek

Tropical Storm Rafael Path Update, Tracker as Warning Issued to Florida

USA Today

Tropical Storm Rafael to become hurricane before landfall in Cuba. Is US at risk?

Forbes

Will Tropical Storm Rafael Become A Hurricane And Impact The U.S.?

Tropical Storm Rafael to become a hurricane before Cuba landfall Wednesday

Independent

Rare November hurricane set to hit the US – here’s the projected path

As of around noon EST Wednesday, Category 2 Hurricane Rafael was less than 150 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba, with The Weather Channel (TWC) predicting it to hit western Cuba as a Category 3 later in the day with 74 mph winds or higher.

The Weather Channel

This follows Rafael's path through other parts of the Caribbean on Tuesday, leaving flash floods and knocking out electricity in Jamaica, as well as power outages and school closures in the Cayman Islands.

However, if the Category 3 reports are accurate, Cuba will receive winds of more than 110 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is also predicting rainfall of four to eight inches in western Cuba, with up to 12 inches in higher terrain.

After Cuba, TWC projects Rafael to continue westward, with winds gradually slowing down 100 mph Friday morning, 80 mph Saturday morning, and 40 mph Monday morning, eventually hitting the Florida Keys and the northern Gulf Coast as a Tropical Storm.

While the NHC hasn't said exactly when and how it will hit the US, it has issued a warning of up to three inches of rain in Florida, with TWC warning of an increased risk of tornadoes in the Keys and southwestern Florida.

Tropical Storm Rafael Approaches Cuba and Florida

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Tropical Storm Rafael Approaches Cuba and Florida

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters