Rafael strengthened into a low-end hurricane Tuesday night as it approached the Cayman Islands in the central Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center said. The rare November hurricane was expected to continue churning northwest toward western Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico this week,

An active 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season continues as Rafael strengthens into a category 1 storm. It's expected to batter Cayman Islands and Cuba before swinging into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Rafael — previously known as Tropical Cyclone 18 — is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday morning as it moves across the Caribbean Sea. The storm is forecast to approach the central and northern Gulf of Mexico later this week.