Hurricane Rafael rapidly strengthens to Category 3 as it swirls towards Cuba and the US Gulf states

Hurricane Rafael quickly strengthened to a powerful Category 3 large wind Wednesday day — arsenic it churned towards occidental Cuba connected a way that could frighten US states on nan Gulf of Mexico successful nan coming days, forecasters said.

The wild late-season storm — which intensified by 50 mph complete conscionable 24 hours to 115 mph —  was little than 85 miles from nan land and expected to make landfall astatine astir 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to nan National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane is forecast to turn moreover stronger earlier pounding Cuba but past weaken arsenic it crosses land, forecasters said.

It will apt past look successful nan southeastern Gulf of Mexico — not acold from nan Florida Keys — Wednesday night, still swirling astatine “hurricane strength,” forecasters said.

“Rafael is expected to make landfall successful occidental Cuba this afternoon,” nan NHC said successful its 1 p.m. advisory Wednesday. “Rafael is forecast to move into nan southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight.”

The large wind is forecast to wallop Cuba arsenic nan first Category 3 hurricane to deed nan state since Hurricane Ian successful September 2022.   In October, Hurricane Oscar — a Category 1 large wind —  struck nan island, sidesplitting astatine slightest 6 people.

Rafael churned done occidental Jamaica connected Tuesday day but location reported nary deaths aliases injuries contempt nan dense rain. It past moved done portions of nan Cayman Islands Wednesday morning.

Rafael could is nan 5th “major hurricane”  — defined arsenic being a  Category 3 aliases stronger — of nan 2024 play and nan strongest to hit  nan northwestern Caribbean successful nan period of November since 2009, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Heavy rainfall is forecast successful Western Caribbean, including crossed Jamaica and nan Cayman Islands, done Thursday, according to nan NHC.

The storm’s way will return it past nan Florida Keys and into nan Gulf of Mexico, wherever it will frighten nan US and perchance make landfall location betwixt Texas and nan Florida panhandle complete nan play aliases early adjacent week.