Rafael intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday evening in the Caribbean near the Cayman Islands as it headed for the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said.

Rafael strengthened into a low-end hurricane Tuesday night as it approached the Cayman Islands in the central Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center said. The rare November hurricane was expected to continue churning northwest toward western Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico this week,

Rafael is forecast to reach hurricane strength later today and intensify into a high-end Category 1 or possibly a Category 2 by the time it makes landfall in Cuba overnight.

Democratic New Mexico Rep. Gabriel Vasquez squared off against Republican challenger Yvette Herrell in the toss-up, border-state House race.