• A new tropical cyclone named RAFAEL formed over the central Caribbean Sea in the evening (UTC) of 3 November and started moving north-northwest toward western Jamaica, the Cayman Islands (UK), and central-western Cuba, strengthening.
• On 5 November at 6.00 its centre was located over the Caribbean Sea approximately 175 km south-east of the Negril town, far western Jamaica, and around 825 km south-east of the Artemisa city, western Cuba, nearby the capital Havana, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (tropical storm).
• RAFAEL is expected to pass very close to western Jamaica on 5 November, with maximum sustained winds of 93 km/h. After that, it is forecast to make landfall over the area of the Artemisa city (Cuba) on 6 November, with maximum sustained winds up to 148 km/h (category 1 hurricane).
• Over the next 48 hours, heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges are forecast over western Cuba, most of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Heavy rainfall is forecast over the far southern Florida (USA) since 6 November. NOAA has issued a hurricane warning for western Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

• Tropical cyclone RAFAEL, passed between the western coast of Jamaica and the eastern coasts of the Cayman islands (UK) on 5 November and continued northwest toward western Cuba, strengthening. On 6 November at 6.00 its centre was located over the Caribbean Sea approximately 105 km north-northeast of Grand Cayman and 330 km south-southeast of La Havana (Cuba), with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (hurricane category 1).
• RAFAEL is forecast to become a Category 2 hurricane before it makes landfall over western Cuba in an area close to Artemisa city on late of 6 November. After that, it could briefly weaken over Cuba, but it is expected to emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. 
• Over the next 48 hours, heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges are forecast over western Cuba, most of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
• Hurricane warnings are in effect across the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth.

• Tropical cyclone RAFAEL made landfall over western Cuba on 6 November (in the evening, UTC) as hurricane category 3 (winds up to 185 km/h), and is moving over the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico. On 7 November at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located over the sea approximately 185 km west-northwest of La Havana (Cuba) and 250 km west-southwest of Key West island (Florida, USA), with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (hurricane category 2). 
• According to media, following its passage, 10 million people experienced power cuts. The Cuban authorities suspended public transit, schools, and flights. Furthermore, at least 70,000 people have been evacuated from the areas at very high risk.
• RAFAEL is expected to continue to move away from western Cuba over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on 7 November. After that, it will move over the southern Gulf of Mexico for the next few days.
• For the next 24 hours, Heavy rainfall and strong winds are still forecasted across western Cuba. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, and

Mayabeque. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Lower and Middle Florida Keys.

• Tropical cyclone RAFAEL passed over western Cuba (just west of the capital Havana) on 6 November late in the evening (UTC) as a category 2-3 hurricane and continued moving northwestward over the Gulf of Mexico on 7 November, as a category 2 hurricane. On 8 November, its centre was located over the central Gulf of Mexico approximately 335 km north of the northern coast of Yucatan Peninsula, eastern Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h (category 3 hurricane).
• Its passage over Cuba caused heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges. Media report, as of 8 November, approximately 220,000 evacuated people in western and central Cuba, mainly across the capital Havana area and the nearby Artemisa province.
• RAFAEL is expected to continue west and south-west toward the coast of central-southern Mexico on 9-13 November, weakening into a tropical storm on 10 November.
• Over the next 48 hours, more heavy rainfall is still forecast over central and western Cuba, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.