Rafael strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds shortly before striking the southern coast of western Cuba at 415 PM ET Wednesday near Playa Majana in Artemisa Province.
The hurricane passed to within about 40 miles of Havana shortly before sunset Wednesday, bringing winds gusts as high as 93 mph along Havana Harbor.
Rafael is only the 8th major Category 3 or stronger hurricane to form in the month of November over the past 60 years and the first major November hurricane since Hurricane Iota, which struck Nicaragua in November 2020.
Rafael is the 5th major hurricane of the very active 2024 hurricane season, only the 10th season in the modern record since 1966 to record at least five Category 3 or stronger hurricanes and the first since the 2020 hurricane season.
Rafael emerges over the Gulf, stays well west of FloridaRafael emerged over the Gulf of Mexico north of Cuba late Wednesday, bending westward into southern Gulf waters. While its center passed about 150 miles west of the lower Florida Keys, Rafael still brought gusty tropical storm winds to 47 mph late yesterday in Key West and stinging outer rainbands.
