Hurricane Rafael, now a Category 2 storm, is moving westward across the Gulf of Mexico after causing significant damage in Cuba. The storm, which was 200 miles west-northwest of Havana and 215 miles west of Key West, Florida, as of Thursday (November 7) morning, is expected to weaken and possibly dissipate before reaching the western Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center's 9 a.m. ET update.
Rafael made landfall in Cuba late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, causing flash floods and triggering an island-wide blackout. This has left approximately 10 million people without power, with Havana largely remaining in the dark. The storm is expected to continue causing mudslides and flooding in Cuba as it moves further into the Gulf, dropping an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain.
USA Today reports that prior to Rafael's landfall, thousands of people were evacuated from Cuba's western provinces, especially low-lying areas. Government offices were shut down, schools were closed, and Jose Marti International Airport in Havana was scheduled to remain closed until at least late Thursday afternoon.
The storm's future path is uncertain, with meteorologists predicting that Rafael will continue moving westward over the coming days. However, the storm is expected to weaken due to cooler water and wind shear.
Meanwhile, meteorologists are monitoring another potential storm system in the Caribbean Sea. The system, located several hundred miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands, could undergo gradual development over the next few days as it moves near the Greater Antilles. However, the National Hurricane Center considers the chance of formation over the next week to be low at 20%.