As the center of Rafael moved on to the Gulf, parts of western Cuba were experiencing "life-threatening storm surge" and flash flooding, the hurricane center said Wednesday evening. All the while, the island's entire population of 10 million was once again left in the dark,

After blasting across western Cuba as a Cat 3, Rafael emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a rare November Cat 2.

Hurricane Rafael is expected to turn toward the west and slow down in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said.