Hurricane Rafael

Hurricane Rafael was the strongest November tropical cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico on record, tied with 1985's Hurricane Kate. The seventeenth named storm, eleventh hurricane, and fifth major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Rafael formed on November 4, 2024 from an area of low-pressure spawned by a Central American gyre. Steady organization occurred throughout the next two days, with Rafael becoming a hurricane early on November 6, as it moved northwest towards Cuba. Favorable conditions enabled the cyclone to rapidly intensify, becoming a Category 3 major hurricane later that day before landfall in Cuba. Then, after weakening some while over land, it entered the Gulf of Mexico and re-intensified to a major hurricane once again at peak intensity early on November 8. Hostile conditions, including wind shear and cooler sea-surface temperatures, caused the hurricane to rapidly weaken afterward, falling below hurricane intensity later that day, and eventually degenerating into a remnant low on November 10. The circulation opened up into a trough the next day.

In its formative stages, Rafael produced heavy rainfall across several areas of Central America and Colombia. Numerous residents in Panama had to evacuate their homes after their houses were damaged, leaving a total of more than 210 displaced. Five people died as a result of the flooding in that country; one death was also reported in Colombia. There were two direct storm fatalities in Jamaica. Damage estimates in Panama were placed around US$110 million. Agricultural losses in Costa Rica totaled to at least ₡500 million (US$985,000). In Colombia, over 192,000 people were affected by the flooding. Aon estimated that the cyclone caused losses of at least US$150 million in Colombia. In Cuba, more than 283,000 people evacuated ahead of the storm, including 98,300 from Havana. Rafael's winds caused an island-wide power-grid failure. In western Cuba, 12 in (30 cm) of rain was reported, resulting in flooding and landslides. Government officials reported that areas in and around Artemisa sustained the worst damage from Rafael, with more than 3,000 homes damaged in Artemisa and Mayabeque provinces. In total, eight fatalities and at least $1.35 billion in damage can be attributed to Rafael, with approximately $1.08 billion in damage in Cuba alone.