Tropical Storm Rafael formed Monday afternoon in the Caribbean Sea, where it is expected to cross Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Islands, and Cuba, before entering the Gulf of Mexico this week. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before weakening back down to a tropical storm in the Gulf.

Hurricane Rafael has made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm. It is expected to continue into the Gulf of Mexico, weakening but potentially threatening the southeastern United States. Only when tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean encounter the right ingredients for long enough do they strengthen to the point of designation.

TRACKING TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO Rafael reached major hurricane status about 24 hours after becoming a tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday afternoon. Rafael lost intensity as it began moving into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday evening before briefly returning to a Category 3 hurricane Friday morning.