**Hurricane Rafael Joins Elite Company as it Moves Toward the Gulf of Mexico**

As the official hurricane season continues, Hurricane Rafael stands out among recent storms with its notable strength and timing. As of 1 p.m. Eastern, Hurricane Rafael has reached Category 3 status with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.

Renowned meteorologist and hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach shared remarkable statistics about this hurricane on X. According to Klotzbach, Rafael is the fifth major hurricane of the season. To put this in perspective, only seven other years since 1966 have recorded five or more major hurricanes. Rafael is also distinguished as the fourth major hurricane since late September, tying a record set in 2020. Typically, a maximum of two hurricanes occur in this late period.

The National Hurricane Center's official forecast indicates that Rafael is expected to gradually move westward into the center of the Gulf of Mexico. This forecast suggests Rafael will maintain its hurricane status through Saturday before weakening to a tropical storm.

Despite concerns about Rafael potentially approaching the U.S. coastline, it is unlikely to remain a strong hurricane. Hurricanes require sea surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit to sustain their strength. Presently, Gulf of Mexico temperatures have cooled to below this threshold. Recent trends indicate only minor warming in localized areas, with the majority of the Gulf experiencing slight cooling.

As Rafael transitions from waters ranging 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit to a cooler range of 75 to 80 degrees, it is expected to weaken. While it may not retain its hurricane status upon approaching the U.S. coast, Rafael’s presence serves as a stark reminder of the exceptionally active and destructive hurricane season experienced in the U.S. this year.