Hurricane Rafael strengthens over Gulf of Mexico after crossing Cuba
Hurricane Rafael is currently over open waters in the Gulf of Mexico, having regained strength after crossing western Cuba as a Category 3 storm. As of Thursday afternoon, it has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, making it a Category 2 storm. The storm is moving slowly westward, about 260 miles from Havana, Cuba. There are no watches or warnings in effect due to its distance from land. However, swells from Rafael may create dangerous surf and rip currents along the Gulf Coast. On Wednesday, Rafael caused significant damage in Cuba, bringing high winds and flash floods, just weeks after Hurricane Oscar impacted the island. The storm also affected Jamaica, causing power outages and landslides.