The Climate Adaptation Center—which will hold its fourth annual Florida Climate Conference on Nov. 14-15—has been issuing updates as we learn more about Hurricane Milton. Here’s the latest from meteorologist and CAC founder and CEO Bob Bunting.

Hurricane Rafael is rapidly developing just south of Cuba and will strike the western provinces of the country as a major hurricane before entering the Gulf of Mexico late tomorrow afternoon. 

As I indicated in yesterday’s tropical update, a strong tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane would emerge into the Gulf and move parallel to the Florida west coast before turning more westward—and that's still the best forecast. The formation of Rafael's eye increases my confidence that Rafael will shift its path more westward once it moves into the Gulf at the latitude of Naples.

Because the storm will be south of the Suncoast, winds will be from the east—that will means gusty winds Wednesday though Thursday, with some gale-force winds Wednesday night along with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Since Hurricane Milton, no precipitation has fallen until today.  I expect general rainfall from this storm to be less than 1 inch.

Once Rafael moves away, we can look forward to a mild and dry winter season.  There is an excellent chance that Rafael will be the last storm we see close to our area, following a long and brutal hurricane season.

It should not take catastrophic storms like Hurricane Debby, Helene and Milton for people to prioritize and take action against the rising effects of climate warming. Climate Adaptation Center scientists have been warning that events like hurricanes, tropical storms and even heavy rains are being made worse by climate change. These climate-induced events have taken a devastating toll, claiming lives and causing billions of dollars in property damage.