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,

After blasting across western Cuba as a Cat 3, Rafael emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a rare November Cat 2.

Forecast models suggest steady to rapid strengthening, with a nearly 40% chance of a 35 mph increase in wind speed within the next 24 hours. However, as it nears the central Gulf later this week, increased wind shear, drier air, and slightly cooler waters are likely to weaken it.