Hurricane Rafael will be a rare November storm in Gulf of Mexico
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Hurricane Rafael is seen on satellite over Cuba as of 1pm Wednesday. Image: NOAA
Louisianans should watch Hurricane Rafael's progress in the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasters with the National Weather Service in New Orleans say the storm doesn't pose a threat to the Bayou State on its current path.
The big picture: Rafael rapidly intensified overnight, becoming a Category 3 hurricane before its anticipated landfall in Cuba on Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.
- Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flash flooding are forecast in parts of Cuba.
- It's expected to weaken after landfall but still remain a hurricane in the Gulf for the next several days. See the latest track.
Zoom in: The long-range forecast has the system in the western Gulf well south of Louisiana's coast on Sunday morning.
- Rafael is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm later this weekend. It then may dissipate or head toward Mexico, forecasters say.
- "I wouldn't get your feathers ruffled or make any changes to your schedule this weekend," NWS meteorologist Christopher Bannan tells Axios. "Maybe bring an umbrella if you are heading to a football game."
The silver lining: The system may slightly increase rain chances through the weekend in Louisiana — and it's welcome news.
- Drought conditions are being reported in about 55% of the state, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The intrigue: Since 1861, only 11 hurricanes have been recorded during November in the Gulf, according to WDSU meteorologist Devon Lucie.
State of play: Rafael is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic season, which ends Nov. 30.
- It's the fifth storm this season to strengthen into at least a Category 3 hurricane. The other storms were Beryl, Helene, Kirk and Milton, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach.