Hurricane Rafael hits Cuba as major storm, weakens to Category 2

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael weakened into a Category 2 storm Wednesday evening after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 on its way into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remained under a tropical storm warning.

As of 7 p.m. EST, Rafael, which first gained hurricane status at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, had 105 mph sustained winds. Its center was located 55 miles west-northwest of Havana, Cuba and about 20 miles north of Bahia Honda, Cuba, and is moving northwest into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico at 13 mph.

Life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding continue over portions of western Cuba, the NHC said.

Hurricane-force winds extend out 30 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 115 miles from its center.

Wind gusts to tropical storm force are occurring in squalls over the Lower and Middle Florida Keys, including a gust of 66 mph at the NOAA station at Sand Key.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Florida’s Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas as well as the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfuegos.

“On the forecast track, Rafael is expected to move away from western Cuba this evening, and move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico this evening and tonight,” forecasters said. “Rafael is then forecast to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico for the next few days.”

Effects began hitting southwest Florida on Wednesday with the National Weather Service in Miami forecasting 1-3 inches of rain, especially in the middle and lower Keys.

“There is a limited tornado threat, with the primary area of concern being over interior and southwest portions of the region,” NWS forecasters said.

Deep moisture buildup from ahead of the storm will push into Central Florida by Wednesday evening.

Marine hazards remain the primary concern for the Gulf Coast.

Storm surge is projected to range from 1-3 feet in the Dry Tortugas and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.

Immediate concerns for the Caribbean included rainfall totals that could reach more than 12 inches over Cuba through midweek with the threat of flash flooding and mudslides.

Once it makes it into the Gulf of Mexico, its final destination along the Gulf Coast remains uncertain. The five-day forecast track has a wide range of potential that includes Louisiana and Texas, but it also could turn back south toward Mexico.

“It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast,” forecasters said.

Its intensity, though, should drop from hurricane strength before landfall with drier air and stronger vertical wind shear present in the central Gulf of Mexico.

The NHC also continued to track a trough of low pressure that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms to the east-northeast of the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands.

“This system is expected to move generally westward during the next few days, and an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward or Virgin Islands tonight or Thursday,” forecasters said. “Afterward, some gradual development of this system is possible toward the end of the week and into the weekend while it moves near or to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and approaches the Southeast Bahamas.”

The NHC gave it a 20% chance to develop in the next two days and 30% in the next seven days.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has produced 17 named storms, with 11 of the systems having grown into hurricanes, three of which have struck Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Five of the 11 hurricanes have grown into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or stronger.

The official hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.