Hurricane Rafael: Rare November Storm Batters Cuba, Weakens in Gulf

Hurricane Rafael, a rare major November storm, is moving across the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the southern U.S. coastline with dangerous surf and rip-tides. The Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 120 mph, has already caused significant damage in Cuba, leading to a nationwide power outage and the evacuation of over 283,000 people. As Cuba struggles to restore power, Rafael is expected to weaken over the weekend but may still produce tropical storm-force winds. This marks the first major Gulf hurricane in November in nearly 40 years.