Hurricane Rafael becomes first major November storm in Gulf of Mexico in nearly 40 years

Hurricane Rafael is moving west across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming the first major hurricane in November in nearly 40 years. It has sustained winds of 120 mph and poses threats of dangerous surf and rip tides along the southern U.S. coastline. Cuba is recovering from the storm, which caused widespread power outages. Millions remain without electricity after the hurricane damaged key infrastructure. Over 283,000 people were evacuated, with many seeking refuge in hotels with generators. Rafael is the 17th named storm of the season and ties with Hurricane Kate from 1985 as the strongest recorded in November in the Gulf. The storm is expected to weaken but may still produce tropical storm-force winds.