A rare hurricane for November is expected to make landfall in the southern United States this weekend, meteorologists say.
Tropical Storm Rafael intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday and made landfall in western Cuba as it approached the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The storm has brought life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force wind damage, and flash flooding.
The center said it is likely to emerge as a hurricane in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Florida Keys, but it is too early to determine the impact on parts of the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters warned that several tornadoes were possible across Florida and the Southwest into Wednesday night.
The lower and middle Florida Keys could also receive up to 3 inches of rain from Rafael.
Island authorities shut down schools and government offices in anticipation of that, according to the Associated Press report.
The storm currently has maximum wind speeds of 115 mph and is moving northwest at 14 mph.
Rafael is the 17th named storm in this above-average storm season. passing through jamaica Where there was little damage.
US Department of State warned It banned travel to Cuba and provided non-essential staff with departure flights. A hurricane warning was in effect for the island’s departments of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and Isla de Iuse.
Rafael is expected to remain a Category 1 or 2 storm until it approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend and begins to weaken. Current forecasts show the storm moving from the left side of Florida toward Texas.
Although it weakens as it approaches the United States, the storm is expected to be strong enough to cause rough seas in the Gulf of Mexico, causing coastal erosion and dangerous surf conditions.
Meteorologists expect coastal flooding and believe the storm will most likely make landfall in the U.S. along the Louisiana coast, but its exact location ranges from the Florida Panhandle to Texas. It may extend to the coast.
“The good news is that while there is a good chance Rafael will enter the Gulf as a hurricane midweek, the chances of a storm forming are slim to none.” reach It made landfall like a hurricane,” said Dr. Ryan Torchelut, Weather Tiger’s chief meteorologist. said Fort Myers, Florida; news press paper.
The remnants of the storm could bring enough rain to cause flooding in southern Appalachia, but thankfully most of that rain will not fall on areas affected by Hurricane Helen, and relief efforts are still ongoing. Activities are being carried out.
The nonprofit organization Climate Central said Wednesday that climate change is causing unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean, spurring Rafael’s work. at least 60 times more likely. The group noted that this was the seventh Atlantic hurricane disaster. rapid intensification.
