Hurricane Rafael forms in Atlantic as Paul grows into Category 3 off Mexico MIAMI - Forecasters say Hurricane Rafael has formed in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda, hours after Paul rapidly grew into a major Category 3 hurricane in the Pacific off western Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 6:45 p.m. EDT update Monday that Rafael's top sustained winds had risen to near 75 mph (120 kph), making it the ninth hurricane of the Atlantic season. Rafael is centered about 560 miles (905 kilometers) south of Bermuda. It is moving north at 10 mph (17 kph) and forecast to pass near or to the east of Bermuda by late Tuesday. Earlier, forecasters said Paul strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) and was 415 miles (670 kilometers) southwest of the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.