Tropical Storm Rafael moves through Caribbean, may impact Gulf Coast this weekend

abcnews.go.com November 5, 2024, 04:01 PM UTC

Tropical Storm Rafael is moving through the Caribbean and may reach the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend. It is currently bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Jamaica.

Rafael is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it passes over the Cayman Islands and make landfall in Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane. This could cause mudslides and damaging winds.

On Thursday, the storm's outer bands may affect the Florida Keys. A tropical storm watch is in effect. Its future impact on the Gulf Coast remains uncertain, with some models suggesting rain and others indicating a weakening storm heading toward Mexico.

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Timeline:

  1. [4.5]
    Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba causing power outages and evacuations (livemint.com)
    <1h
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  2. [4.4]
    Cuba's power grid fails as Hurricane Rafael strikes with 115 mph winds (nbcnews.com)
    <1h
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  3. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, heads toward Gulf of Mexico (benzinga.com)
    1h
    Source
  4. [4.4]
    Hurricane Rafael moves into Gulf of Mexico after causing power outages in Cuba (gazette.com)
    1h
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  5. [4.1]
    Hurricane Rafael causes nationwide blackout in Cuba (inquirer.net)
    1h
    Source
  6. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael causes nationwide power outage in Cuba (bbc.com)
    2h
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  7. [4.4]
    Hurricane Rafael causes nationwide power outage in Cuba (cbsnews.com)
    2h
    Source
  8. [4.1]
    Hurricane Rafael causes nationwide blackout in Cuba affecting 10 million residents (sg.news.yahoo.com)
    2h
    Source
  9. [4.8]
    Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, threatens southern US coast (independent.co.uk)
    3h
    Source
  10. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, causing power outages and evacuations (gazette.com)
    4h
    Source
  11. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael forms in the Caribbean and heads toward Cuba with uncertain Gulf path (theadvocate.com)
    4h
    Source
  12. [4.7]
    Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3 storm (nbcnews.com)
    5h
    Source
  13. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it approaches Cuba, impacting potential Tropical Storm Sara (newsweek.com)
    5h
    Source
  14. [4.7]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 3 near Cuba with warnings in effect (forbes.com)
    6h
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  15. [4.0]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 3 as it approaches Cuba and the Gulf Coast (nypost.com)
    6h
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  16. [4.9]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 3 as it approaches Cuba (tmj4.com)
    7h
    Source
  17. [4.2]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens and shifts path toward southern Texas (newsweek.com)
    7h
    Source
  18. [3.7]
    Hurricane Rafael upgraded to Category 3 as it approaches Cuba (news.yahoo.com)
    7h
    Source
  19. [3.3]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it approaches Gulf Coast (dailymail.co.uk)
    7h
    Source
  20. [4.8]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 3 as Cuba prepares for impact (latimes.com)
    8h
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  21. [4.3]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it approaches Cuba (nydailynews.com)
    8h
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  22. [4.6]
    Cuba prepares for Hurricane Rafael as over 70,000 evacuate ahead of landfall (theguardian.com)
    10h
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  23. [4.4]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2, Cuba issues evacuation orders (firstpost.com)
    11h
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  24. [4.0]
    Hurricane Rafael prompts storm surge warning for Florida Keys as it approaches Cuba (newsweek.com)
    11h
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  25. [3.9]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it nears Cuba (pennlive.com)
    11h
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  26. [4.7]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches Cuba with 100 mph winds (edition.cnn.com)
    12h
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  27. [4.3]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it approaches Cuba (gazette.com)
    12h
    Source
  28. [4.1]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as Cuba prepares for impact (nypost.com)
    12h
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  29. [4.8]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba with landfall expected Wednesday (abc7ny.com)
    13h
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  30. [4.7]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba with landfall expected Wednesday (abc7chicago.com)
    13h
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  31. [4.7]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba, landfall expected Wednesday (abc7news.com)
    13h
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  32. [4.6]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2 as it approaches Cuba (cbsnews.com)
    13h
    Source
  33. [4.5]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba with landfall expected Wednesday (abc30.com)
    13h
    Source
  34. [5.5]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches Cuba, prompting evacuations and warnings (cleveland.com)
    14h

  35. [4.5]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies and heads toward U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production (oilprice.com)
    14h
    Source
  36. [4.4]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches Cuba, evacuation orders issued (mlive.com)
    14h
    Source
  37. [4.2]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches Cuba, expected to make landfall as Category 2 storm (gazette.com)
    15h
    Source
  38. [4.1]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches western Cuba and the Cayman Islands (newsweek.com)
    17h
    Source
  39. [5.2]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies as it approaches Cuba, evacuation orders issued (apnews.com)
    18h

  40. [4.8]
    Hurricane Rafael intensifies and targets Louisiana coast for landfall this weekend (independent.co.uk)
    20h
    Source
  41. [4.8]
    Rafael strengthens to Category 1 hurricane as it approaches Cuba (pennlive.com)
    23h
    Source
  42. [4.9]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Gulf of Mexico (news.yahoo.com)
    24h
    Source
  43. [4.1]
    US issues travel advisory for Cuba as Hurricane Rafael approaches (masslive.com)
    24h
    Source
  44. [3.6]
    Hurricane Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba and the Cayman Islands (newsweek.com)
    24h
    Source
  45. [5.2]
    Rafael becomes Category 1 hurricane near Cayman Islands (nbcnews.com)
    1d 1h

  46. [5.1]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba and Cayman Islands (gazette.com)
    1d 1h

  47. [4.8]
    Chances of Tropical Storm Sara forming increase as Rafael strengthens in the Caribbean (newsweek.com)
    1d 1h
    Source
  48. [5.6]
    Cuba prepares for hurricane Rafael as storm approaches island (cbc.ca)
    1d 3h

  49. [5.1]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba and could impact Florida Keys (tmj4.com)
    1d 3h

  50. [5.1]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba and could affect Florida Keys (wcpo.com)
    1d 3h

  51. [5.6]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba, evacuation orders issued (fastcompany.com)
    1d 5h

  52. [5.1]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean, expected to impact Gulf Coast businesses (benzinga.com)
    1d 5h

  53. [5.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it heads toward Gulf Coast with hurricane warnings in effect (forbes.com)
    1d 8h

  54. [5.2]
    Tropical Storm Rafael approaches Cuba after passing Jamaica, hurricane warning issued (abcnews.go.com)
    1d 8h

  55. [4.9]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens in Caribbean and approaches Cuba (theguardian.com)
    1d 9h
    Source
  56. [4.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael intensifies in Caribbean and approaches Cuba (news.yahoo.com)
    1d 9h
    Source
  57. [4.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael moves past Jamaica as Cuba braces for potential hurricane impact (gazette.com)
    1d 9h
    Source
  58. [4.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael approaches Cuba after passing Jamaica, hurricane warning issued (news.yahoo.com)
    1d 9h
    Source
  59. [5.2]
    Tropical Storm Rafael expected to strengthen into hurricane as it approaches Cuba (newsweek.com)
    1d 10h

  60. [5.0]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba, hurricane warnings issued (news.yahoo.com)
    1d 12h

  61. [5.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael approaches Cayman Islands as Cuba braces for hurricane impact (thestar.com)
    1d 15h

  62. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and heads toward the Cayman Islands (wmur.com)
    1d 15h

  63. [5.4]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and heads toward the Cayman Islands (wcvb.com)
    1d 15h

  64. [5.2]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and heads toward the Cayman Islands (kcra.com)
    1d 15h

  65. [5.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (6abc.com)
    1d 16h

  66. [5.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (abc7news.com)
    1d 16h

  67. [5.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (abc7.com)
    1d 16h

  68. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael heads for Cayman Islands and Cuba as hurricane warnings are issued (clickondetroit.com)
    1d 16h

  69. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and threatens Cuba as a hurricane (abc30.com)
    1d 16h

  70. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (abc7ny.com)
    1d 16h

  71. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (abc13.com)
    1d 16h

  72. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (abc7chicago.com)
    1d 16h

  73. [5.3]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Caribbean and Florida (newsweek.com)
    1d 17h

  74. [5.5]
    Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it approaches Cuba and southern Florida (edition.cnn.com)
    1d 18h

  75. [3.8]
    Storm Rafael threatens Gulf of Mexico oil production of up to 4 million barrels per day (oilprice.com)
    1d 18h
    Source
  76. [5.3]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in Caribbean, threatens Cuba as hurricane (pennlive.com)
    2d 1h

  77. [5.1]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in Caribbean, set to strengthen into hurricane (nbcnews.com)
    2d 3h

  78. [5.5]
    Cuba issues hurricane alert as tropical storm Rafael approaches after Oscar's damage (news.yahoo.com)
    2d 4h

  79. [5.6]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may threaten US Gulf Coast (cnn.com)
    2d 5h

  80. [5.6]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean with uncertain path toward U.S. Gulf Coast (regina.ctvnews.ca)
    2d 5h

  81. [5.0]
    Hurricane Rafael forms in Gulf of Mexico, marking rare November event (click2houston.com)
    2d 5h

  82. [5.0]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and is set to strengthen into a hurricane (spectrumlocalnews.com)
    2d 5h

  83. [4.9]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean and may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Cuba (gazette.com)
    2d 5h
    Source
  84. [5.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean with uncertain path toward US Gulf Coast (cnn.com)
    2d 7h

  85. [5.0]
    Tropical storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean, likely to hit Cuba as a hurricane (abc30.com)
    2d 7h

  86. [5.4]
    Tropical storm expected to strengthen and hit Cuba as hurricane (abc7.com)
    2d 8h

  87. [5.2]
    Tropical storm Rafael expected to strengthen and approach Cuba as hurricane (abc7chicago.com)
    2d 8h

  88. [5.2]
    Tropical storm Rafael likely to strengthen into hurricane and approach Cuba (abc13.com)
    2d 8h

  89. [5.1]
    Tropical storm Rafael likely to strengthen into hurricane and approach Cuba (abc7news.com)
    2d 8h

  90. [5.1]
    Tropical storm Rafael expected to strengthen and approach Cuba as hurricane (abc7ny.com)
    2d 8h

  91. [4.9]
    Tropical Depression 18 forms in Caribbean, may threaten US Gulf Coast next weekend (click2houston.com)
    2d 8h
    Source
  92. [4.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael may bring strong winds to Florida Keys by Tuesday night (newsweek.com)
    2d 8h
    Source
  93. [5.6]
    Tropical storm Rafael likely to strengthen into hurricane and hit Cuba (apnews.com)
    2d 9h

  94. [5.4]
    Tropical storm Rafael expected to strengthen into hurricane, likely hitting Cuba this week (cleveland.com)
    2d 9h

  95. [4.9]
    Cuba prepares for potential hurricane as power crisis continues (gazette.com)
    2d 9h
    Source
  96. [4.6]
    Tropical storm expected to form and move into Gulf of Mexico as hurricane (wcpo.com)
    2d 10h
    Source
  97. [4.6]
    Tropical storm expected to form and move into Gulf of Mexico as hurricane (tmj4.com)
    2d 10h
    Source
  98. [4.6]
    Tropical storm may form and move into Gulf of Mexico as hurricane (abc15.com)
    2d 10h
    Source
  99. [4.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael forms in the Caribbean with potential impact on southeastern US (newsweek.com)
    2d 11h
    Source
  100. [5.3]
    Tropical storm likely to form in Caribbean, may strengthen into hurricane for Cuba (6abc.com)
    2d 12h

  101. [5.0]
    Tropical Storm Rafael expected to form in Caribbean and approach Cuba as potential hurricane (theadvocate.com)
    2d 12h

  102. [4.7]
    Tropical Storm Rafael expected to strengthen into hurricane before hitting Louisiana (newsweek.com)
    2d 12h
    Source
  103. [4.5]
    South Mississippi monitors tropical disturbance expected to strengthen into storm (news.yahoo.com)
    2d 12h
    Source
  104. [4.9]
    Tropical storm expected to strengthen into hurricane and likely hit Cuba (clickondetroit.com)
    2d 13h
    Source
  105. [4.7]
    Tropical storm expected to strengthen and likely hit Cuba this week (thestar.com)
    2d 13h
    Source
  106. [4.8]
    Tropical Storm Rafael may form today and move toward Florida (newsweek.com)
    2d 17h
    Source
  107. [5.8]
    Weather system in Caribbean strengthens, hurricane watch issued for Cayman Islands (apnews.com)
    2d 18h

  108. [4.9]
    Tropical disturbance in Caribbean expected to strengthen into hurricane before reaching Gulf of Mexico (nbcnews.com)
    2d 22h
    Source
  109. [5.0]
    Tropical storm and hurricane alerts issued for Jamaica and Cayman Islands (cnn.com)
    3d 1h

  110. [5.5]
    Weather system in Caribbean strengthens, tropical storm warning issued for Jamaica (regina.ctvnews.ca)
    3d 2h

  111. [4.8]
    Tropical disturbance in Caribbean likely to become Hurricane Rafael this week (news.yahoo.com)
    3d 2h
    Source
  112. [5.5]
    Weather system in Caribbean likely to strengthen into tropical storm (cbsnews.com)
    3d 3h

  113. [5.7]
    Weather system in southwestern Caribbean set to strengthen and move north this week (clickondetroit.com)
    3d 4h

  114. [5.5]
    Weather system in southwestern Caribbean set to strengthen and move north (thestar.com)
    3d 4h

  115. [5.5]
    Caribbean disturbance forecast to strengthen into hurricane as it heads for Gulf of Mexico (theadvocate.com)
    3d 4h

  116. [4.9]
    Tropical storm Rafael may threaten US Gulf Coast later this week (news.yahoo.com)
    3d 4h
    Source
  117. [4.3]
    Forecasters track two weather disturbances with one likely to strengthen in the Caribbean (pennlive.com)
    3d 6h
    Source
  118. [4.8]
    Low pressure system in Caribbean may develop into Tropical Storm Rafael (newsweek.com)
    3d 12h
    Source
  119. [4.2]
    Forecasters expect Caribbean disturbance to become tropical depression by Tuesday (news.yahoo.com)
    3d 12h
    Source
  120. [4.2]
    Subtropical Storm Patty forms in Atlantic but expected to weaken soon (news.yahoo.com)
    3d 12h
    Source
  121. [4.4]
    Hurricane season remains active as Subtropical Storm Patty forms and Rafael looms in the Caribbean (news.yahoo.com)
    4d 14h
    Source
  122. [4.3]
    Tropical storm chances rise for three systems in the Atlantic (newsweek.com)
    5d 2h
    Source
  123. [4.4]
    Hurricane season remains active in November with potential developments in the Caribbean (cnn.com)
    5d 5h
    Source
  124. [3.8]
    Meteorologists warn of potential storm Patty forming in the Caribbean (dailymail.co.uk)
    5d 8h
    Source
  125. [3.8]
    Meteorologists raise threat level for potential Hurricane Patty in the Caribbean (dailymail.co.uk)
    5d 9h
    Source
  126. [4.7]
    National Hurricane Center monitors potential storm Rafael in the Atlantic (newsweek.com)
    5d 11h
    Source
  127. [4.2]
    Three potential tropical storms develop in the Atlantic (newsweek.com)
    5d 11h
    Source
  128. [3.9]
    National Hurricane Center monitors potential tropical depression in Caribbean Sea (news.yahoo.com)
    5d 11h
    Source
  129. [4.4]
    Hurricane center tracks three Atlantic disturbances with one likely to develop (news.yahoo.com)
    5d 14h
    Source
  130. [4.9]
    Tropical Storm Patty strengthens in the Caribbean, rain expected in Central America (newsweek.com)
    5d 15h
    Source
  131. [4.7]
    Tropical storm Patty may form in Caribbean as weather system strengthens (newsweek.com)
    6d 10h
    Source
  132. [4.5]
    Meteorologists track potential Tropical Storm Patty as it approaches Florida (newsweek.com)
    8d 7h
    Source
  133. [3.9]
    Experts monitor potential development of Hurricane Patty in Caribbean (comingsoon.net)
    8d 15h
    Source
  134. [4.7]
    National Hurricane Center tracks potential tropical depression in Caribbean (kcra.com)
    9d 11h
    Source
  135. [4.7]
    National Hurricane Center tracks potential tropical depression in Caribbean (wmur.com)
    9d 11h
    Source
  136. [4.7]
    National Hurricane Center tracks potential tropical depression in Caribbean (wcvb.com)
    9d 11h
    Source
  137. [4.4]
    Hurricane Center monitors potential tropical cyclone in Pacific Ocean (newsweek.com)
    9d 11h
    Source
  138. [4.4]
    Chances of Tropical Storm Patty forming in Caribbean rise to 40 percent (newsweek.com)
    9d 11h
    Source
  139. [4.4]
    NHC monitors Caribbean for potential tropical development next week (nbc-2.com)
    10d 15h
    Source