Rafael strengthened into a low-end hurricane Tuesday night as it approached the Cayman Islands in the central Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center said. The rare November hurricane was expected to continue churning northwest toward western Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico this week,

Hurricane Rafael has intensified into a Category 3 ahead of its Cuba landfall, then will brush the Florida Keys as it tracks into the Gulf of Mexico where weakening should commence due to multiple atmospheric and oceanic factors.

An active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season continues as Rafael strengthens into a category 1 storm. It's expected to batter Cayman Islands and Cuba before swinging into the Gulf of Mexico.