Hurricane Rafael weakens to Category 2 as it moves west from Cuba after power grid collapse
Hurricane Rafael has weakened to a Category 2 storm as it moves westward from Cuba, where it caused the power grid to collapse. This storm is the fifth major hurricane of the Atlantic season and the strongest in November since 2020. Rafael made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, prompting evacuations in the western Artemisa province. The national electric system failed due to strong winds, and officials are waiting for the storm to pass before restoring power. The hurricane is expected to meander in the southern Gulf of Mexico, with forecasts indicating it may weaken to a tropical storm by the weekend. Oil companies are evacuating personnel and shutting down production in preparation for the storm.