While Rafael poses no direct threat to land, swells generated by the storm are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along portions of the northern and western Gulf Coast through ... The forecast track shows the most likely ...

Some of the models suggest that Rafael may even do a small loop out in the Gulf. Meanwhile, a trough of low pressure near Puerto Rico is bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to the area but has a low chance of development over the next week.

Rafael strengthened into a low-end hurricane Tuesday night as it approached the Cayman Islands in the central Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center said. The rare November hurricane was expected to continue churning northwest toward western Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico this week,