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Hurricane Rafael, which recently made landfall in Cuba as a Category 2 storm, has stirred up more than just the Caribbean seas. While this hurricane is significant for its unusual trajectory, social media users have latched onto it for a very different reason: they’re hoping it takes aim at Florida, especially in the wake of the recent U.S. presidential election results.
Credit: Canva
This past week, Americans cast their votes for the nation’s 47th President. On the Democrat side, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped up to replace Joe Biden after he withdrew from the race, facing off against former President Donald Trump. When all was said and done, Trump won with 301 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, reclaiming his place in the White House. He also managed to secure the popular vote, earning 73.4 million votes to Harris’ 69 million—a striking turn of events that further cemented his victory.
Election night was especially grim for Harris as Trump clinched key swing states like North Carolina, Georgia, and ultimately, Pennsylvania, which delivered the final blow to her campaign. The loss was sealed after Florida—a state that turned blue in both 2008 and 2012 during Barack Obama’s tenure—voted overwhelmingly in Trump’s favor, with 56.1% of Floridians supporting him compared to Harris’ 42.9%. The 30 electoral votes from the Sunshine State played a critical role in Trump’s return to the presidency.
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr
While the country grapples with the implications of a second Trump term, nature’s forces do not pause for politics. On the very night of the election, a storm evolved into Hurricane Rafael, with initial forecasts suggesting it could brush past Florida. Although the Florida Keys appeared to be the only area at risk, social media erupted with users seemingly rooting for the storm to change course and strike Florida.
ABC13 Houston posted a weather update on TikTok, quickly gaining traction with over 277,000 likes and more than 21,000 comments.
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
The comment section, however, was far from concerned for those in Rafael’s path. Many users cheered on the hurricane, posting remarks like, “Hope Rafael has a safe journey to Florida,” and “Wishing Rafael strength in this tough time.” Others took a more sardonic tone, with comments like “Cat 6 please and thank you” and offers of “snacks or anything along the way for the journey.” Some users even suggested they wished for the storm to unleash its fury on Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania—states that Trump won.
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr
However, despite the online frenzy, meteorologists confirm that Hurricane Rafael will not hit Florida. Instead, it has taken a sharp turn westward into the Gulf of Mexico. In doing so, the storm has already made history. As reported by Click Orlando, “In recorded history, Florida typically receives a landfall by nearly every named storm to form in the month of November.” But Rafael’s unexpected path toward the Bay of Campeche and potentially into Mexico is virtually unprecedented for this time of year.
Florida’s hurricane season has already been unforgiving, with storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton causing significant damage. These storms led to temporary closures of major attractions, including Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, where guests were advised to shelter in place. While Rafael won’t add to Florida’s weather woes, its unusual trajectory has left its mark on history books.
Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife, Flickr
This unexpected storm, however, has revealed more than meteorological anomalies. The surprising willingness of many social media users to cheer for a natural disaster as a reaction to political results is a sobering reflection of the current political climate. It raises the question: how did a hurricane become a rallying cry for those frustrated by the election results?
What do you think about people rooting for Hurricane Rafael to strike Florida after the election? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
I think some people suffer from terminal TDS😳
Ah, yes, the so tolerate left. Disgusting.
I hope you lose your job. Notice I didn’t wish you to lose your life or cherished items. That’s the way it’s done when you’re an adult.
I hope all those severely suffering from TDS get into a car accident.
This comment makes you every bit as bad as them. Just goes to show you there are good and bad on both sides.
This publication is a joke. First of all this hurricane was never forecast to come to Florida. Secondly this publication is less about Disney and more above liberals trying to divide. They should be ashamed of themselves. No matter which side you are on you should not be posting crap like this.
Sad to see so much hatred directed toward the citizens of our nation.
There goes the peaceful, tolerant left again wishing death on people because of different political views.
Amen! Isn’t it amazing how they label themselves as being “tolerant”
Unless of course it does not go their way, than all Hell breaks lose.
First of all, President Trump win with 312 electoral votes, not 301, and he also won by around 5 milling popular votes. Secondly, the country isn’t grappling with the implications of a second Trump term; the only grappling is the biased media trying to figure out how they’ll weasel their way out of their doomsday predictions when they knew for a fact they were all lies to begin with. The other wrangling is all the people who were misled by the media and jumped down the rabbit hole of Trump derangement syndrome, feeling hopeless and bereft and believing the world as they know it is coming to an end; it’s sad and I feel empathy for them because of how the vicious, 1 party media used fear mongering to cause hatred. Finally, anyone who makes statements about a hurricane changing is path and hoping it takes certain people or places out because of political disagreement is seriously misguided and needs psychological help.
Forgive the typos, my phone has a mind of its own.
This is the story that shows enough is enough with this publication. I have decided to block the emails that provide the link to these stories.
you people are sick people. How dare you wish any kind of destruction on any state just because you are so ignorant and you didn’t get what you wanted, to bad so sad. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. Amen thank you Lord the best candidate won
There’s a lot of stupid people and I guess a lot of them live in Florida