Hurricane Kate was the last November storm of this strength in the Gulf that year, almost four decades ago. It ultimately made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 storm. As with Rafael, Kate was the eleventh storm of the season and first made landfall in Cuba.

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.