A rare November hurricane, Storm Rafael, is barreling toward the US and has been upgraded to a Category 2. Expected to make landfall anywhere from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, it could hit western Cuba within hours. With maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, Rafael poses a significant threat, prompting the National Hurricane Center to issue warnings for the Florida Keys, predicting up to three inches of rainfall and an increased tornado risk.
Although Rafael may weaken as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, experts caution that rapid intensification is possible due to high ocean temperatures, making it the strongest hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean this November since 2009. Floridians, still recovering from previous storms, are advised to stay alert for updates as this storm could impact local communities already under strain.
