Credit: Inside the MagicThe recent Category 2 hurricane that made landfall in Cuba, Hurricane Rafael, has been stirring up more than just the ocean. Instead of focusing on the storm’s historic significance, social media users have taken to the internet with a different kind of fervor. The surprising trend? Many are “rooting” for the hurricane to turn its destructive power toward Florida, particularly after the 2024 U.S. election results.
Earlier this week, Americans went to the polls to decide their next leader. Vice President Kamala Harris faced off against former President Donald Trump. In a tightly contested election, Trump emerged victorious with 301 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, reclaiming the presidency. Alongside his electoral victory, Trump also secured the popular vote, garnering 73.4 million votes to Harris’ 69 million.
Harris’ campaign took a hard hit after Trump’s wins in crucial battleground states like North Carolina, Georgia, and, most decisively, Pennsylvania. This series of wins sealed Trump’s path back to the Oval Office. The loss was particularly tough in Ron DeSantis-led Florida, where Trump claimed 56.1% of the vote against Harris’ 42.9%, securing all 30 of Florida’s electoral votes. This outcome stung even more given Florida’s history of swinging blue for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
While the nation reeled from the implications of a Trump return to power, Mother Nature had her own plans. On election night, a storm intensified into Hurricane Rafael and began its journey towards Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico. Though initial forecasts suggested minimal impact on Florida, that didn’t stop social media users from rallying behind the hurricane with surprising enthusiasm.
A weather update posted by ABC13 Houston quickly went viral, racking up over 277,000 likes and 21,000 comments on TikTok. However, the comment section was filled with unexpected messages. Many users were not concerned for those potentially affected but instead cheered on the storm.
All eyes on the Gulf! Rafael strengthens into a hurricane and is predicted to move into the Gulf by Wednesday. Catch the latest tropical updates with ABC13-Elita Loresca wherever you watch ABC13.
@abc13houston All eyes on the Gulf! Rafael strengthens into a hurricane and is predicted to move into the Gulf by Wednesday. Catch the latest tropical updates with ABC13-Elita Loresca wherever you watch ABC13. #weather #hurricane #gulfofmexico #hurricanerafael #eyesonthegulf #tropicalweather #tropicalweatherupdate #weatherupdate #fy #fyf #news #severeweather #texasweather #gulfcoast #abc13houston #abc13
Comments like, “Hope Rafael has a safe journey to Florida,” and “Wishing Rafael strength in this tough time,” flooded the post, often dripping with sarcasm. Other comments took a darker turn, with users pleading for Rafael to reach Category 5 status and wreak havoc on states that had voted Republican, particularly Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Despite the social media frenzy, meteorologists have made it clear that Florida won’t face the brunt of Rafael’s force. Instead, the storm will veer westward into the Gulf of Mexico. This unexpected shift in trajectory has already made Rafael a historic event.
According to a report by Click Orlando, “In recorded history, Florida typically receives a landfall by nearly every named storm to form in the month of November.” Yet, Rafael’s unusual path towards the Bay of Campeche and potentially a Mexican landfall marks a rare deviation from the norm.
Florida’s hurricane season this year has already been particularly brutal, with storms like Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene causing widespread damage. These storms even forced closures at major attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. Guests were confined to their resort hotels for safety as Central Florida braced itself against the storms’ powerful winds and flooding rains.
But Rafael, while sparking intense online reactions, seems poised to be less of a threat. As it moves westward away from Florida, it dodges becoming another catastrophic event for a state still reeling from previous storms.
Still, the social media reaction raises questions about the tone and direction of public discourse. The idea that people would cheer on a natural disaster in response to political outcomes reflects deep divisions within the country.
What are your thoughts on people turning Hurricane Rafael into a symbol of political frustration? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!