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Rafael batters Caribbean on its way to Gulf Coast & hurricane status

Tropical Storm Rafael was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday evening (Nov. 5) as it passed south of western Jamaica that same morning, battering the western Caribbean on its way toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.
According to NBC News, forecasters said Rafael was “getting better organized” as its center passed Jamaica.
The storm, previously known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 18, formed Sunday, recorded maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving north-west at 13 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) 10 a.m. ET Tuesday update.
“Rafael is expected to become a hurricane as it passes near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba,” the center said.
The Cayman Islands has issued a hurricane warning and the Cuban government also upgraded its previous watches — including for Havana — to warnings.
The storm system is expected to approach the U.S. later in the week. A tropical storm watch was issued Monday afternoon for the lower and middle Florida Keys and for the Dry Tortugas, which was later upgraded Tuesday morning to a tropical storm warning.
According to CNN, the storm should weaken on approach in the Gulf and is not expected to be as severe as hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Rafael is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and it will be the 11th hurricane, if it strengthens as expected. The season lasts until Nov. 30, with peak activity usually around Sept. 10.
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