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.

Another tropical storm is likely to develop in the Caribbean late next week. This storm will be called “Rafael”. Here’s what the Hurricane Center says: “Southwestern Caribbean Sea:Disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Caribbean Sea are associated with a broad area of low pressure.

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, the disturbance had a 50% chance of forming into a tropical depression or storm within the next week.

The Atlantic Basin's next tropical threat continues to be tracked by the National Hurricane Center in the Caribbean Sea.

Rafael is expected to continue to intensify into major hurricane strength on Wednesday after becoming a hurricane the prior night. It began as a Category 1 before strengthening into a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday morning.

Hurricane Rafael. AccuWeather currently suggests that Rafael is most likely to make landfall along the central Louisiana coast. However, the National Hurricane Center

The hurricane is in rarified air for storms in November, but will be in much different shape as it approaches the US.

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael weakened into a Category 2 storm Wednesday evening after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 on its way into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remained under a tropical storm warning.