Hurricane Rafael strikes Cuba, weakens, and heads into Gulf of Mexico

Cuba was hit by Hurricane Rafael in all its power when it arrived as a Category 3 hurricane. It softened into Category 2 as it passed over the island into the Gulf of Mexico.

This tropical storm is the fifth major Atlantic hurricane this year and the most powerful that can come up this late in the Atlantic since 2009.

Destructive Landfall in Cuba

The impact of Rafael was both sudden and severely destructive in Cuba. Thousands of people were evacuated mainly in coastal Artemisa region. The hurricane made landfall near Playa Majana, bringing regional rains, powerful blow of wind, and a storm surge.

Cuba’s national power grid came down as the storm approached, leaving great section of the nation without electric power. The blow was a repeat of Hurricane Oscar that affected Cuba with wind, rains, and devastating damages in October.

Rapid Intensification and Climate Change

Rafael is powering up at a pace that has been unusually swift. Scientists are becoming increasingly worried with this trend. Warmer ocean waters, one of the impacts of global warming, make storm intensification rapid.

So far, this already marks the ninth storm to rapidly strengthen for the Atlantic hurricane season.

Late season storms like Rafael are very strong, so powerful that one might not notice such storm forming in this early days of November. The National Hurricane Center is aligning to the fact that only five hurricanes that have been experienced entering the Gulf of Mexico since 1966.

Uncertainty of Path in the Gulf

Rafael’s path for the next few days is still uncertain. The latest models suggest a turn towards the west, but the National Hurricane Center warns that the exact path of the storm remains to be seen. Upper-level winds may direct Rafael to the coast of the United States.

The northern Gulf remains low in risk, but the southern and southwestern parts of the Gulf should stay alert. Forecasters predict Rafael will further decrease, which may reduce it to a tropical storm.

Oil Operations on High Alert

Oil companies in the Gulf are preparing. Chevron company evacuated its personnel, shutting down production on its platforms. Shell and BP both companies followed this by relocating less essential personnel.

Despite projections that Rafael will weaken, the oil companies are preparing for all levels of outcomes.

A Stormy Season of Stronger, Later Storms

Rafael remains to hit over the Gulf, and even predictions will likely shift. This early-season storm has been developing with such fury so late in the hurricane season.

This storm is again supported by an emerging Atlantic pattern with climatological signs. These signs are leading these unpredictable, intense storms deep into the hurricane season.