Hurricane Rafael moves into Gulf of Mexico after hitting Cuba
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing winds of up to 115 mph and causing widespread power outages. The storm has now moved into the Gulf of Mexico. As of Thursday morning, Rafael's maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph, with some weakening expected. The storm is forecast to move northwest over the southern Gulf for several days, with additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches possible in Cuba. The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening surf and rip currents in the Gulf. The storm's future path remains uncertain, with potential impacts ranging from eastern Mexico to parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast.