Wed Nov 06 13:39:55 UTC 2024: ## Hurricane Rafael Pummels Caribbean, Bringing Flooding and Power Outages
**SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -** Hurricane Rafael intensified to a Category 2 storm on Wednesday, hours before making landfall in western Cuba. The storm, which follows another hurricane that killed at least six people in eastern Cuba just two weeks ago, has exacerbated the country’s ongoing power crisis.
Rafael, packing winds of 100 mph, was located 90 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and 160 miles south-southeast of Havana. The storm, moving northwest at 14 mph, has already dumped heavy rain on Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, causing flooding and landslides.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Cuba, urging American citizens and non-essential staff to depart. The Cuban Civil Defense also urged residents to prepare for the storm, issuing an evacuation order for 37,000 people in the province of Guantanamo.
The storm’s impact has been felt across the Caribbean:
* **Jamaica:** Power outages were widespread, and impassable roads hampered restoration efforts.
* **Cayman Islands:** Power outages were reported across the islands, and schools remained closed on Wednesday. Crews were dispatched to assess damages after the storm’s direct hit.
Forecasters warn that Rafael will bring heavy rainfall to the western Caribbean, potentially causing flooding and mudslides in Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The storm is also expected to bring heavy rain to Florida and nearby areas of the southeast U.S. later this week.
Rafael is the 17th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, which NOAA has predicted to be well above average, with up to 25 named storms.
First Piper 