Weaker Noel Soaks Cuba

Tropical Storm Noel hit Cuba today as its rains kept drenching the Dominican Republic and Haiti, CNN reports. The ex-hurricane's 40 mph winds and 5 to 15 inches of rain are expected to stay over Cuba tonight before moving north tomorrow. Forecasters say the storm will likely miss the US, but a tropical storm watch may apply to southeastern Florida.

Computer models have Noel reaching the central and northwestern Bahamas next before heading for the Atlantic, Reuters reports. In the Dominican Republic, death tolls vary from 11 to 25, but hundreds have fled flooded homes and dozens more may be missing. "This is just one of those storms that tells you the [hurricane] season does not end until November 30," one expert said. "Anything can happen."