The latest tracks take Rafael on a likelier path towards Southeast Louisiana in your New Orleans weather forecast. For a more in depth analysis on Rafael, click here. Rafael will enter the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday but now looks like it won't bring gusty winds and rain until this weekend.

Hurricane Rafael has formed on a path towards Cuba and is expected to bring tropical storm-strength winds and rain to the country, before continuing into the Gulf of Mexico and threatening the southeastern United States.

Hurricane Rafael is continuing to strengthen as it approaches landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours, and Rafael is forecast to become a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Rafael has strengthened to near hurricane intensity as it barrels toward the Cayman Islands and Cuba, where it was forecast to hit as a full hurricane

The hurricane is in rarified air for storms in November, but will be in much different shape as it approaches the US.