Hurricane Rafael strengthens to powerful Category 3 storm as it heads to Cuba

HAVANA -- HAVANA (AP) — Rafael strengthened Wednesday into a powerful Category 3 hurricane up of its expected landfall successful occidental Cuba, wherever it was forecast to bring “life-threatening” large wind surges, winds and flash floods.

The storm, which knocked retired powerfulness and dumped raon connected nan Cayman Islands and Jamaica. expected it deed nan Isle of Youth successful nan coming hours and make landfall later connected Wednesday.

Classes and nationalist carrier were suspended connected parts of nan land arsenic authorities issued an siren for nan incoming upwind for nan westbound of nan country. Workers secured buildings and cleaned up garbage on Havana’s coastline successful mentation for floods. Authorities besides cancelled flights successful definite areas for illustration Havana and Varadero. Thousands of group successful nan westbound of nan land were evacuated arsenic a prevention measure.

“Preparations to protect life and spot should beryllium rushed to completion,” warned nan National Hurricane Center successful Miami.

The large wind was located astir 40 miles (65 kilometers) east-southeast of nan Isle of Youth and astir 85 miles (135 kilometers) south-southeast of Havana. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving northwest astatine 14 mph (22 kph), according to nan National Hurricane Center successful Miami.

Forecasters expected nan large wind to later weaken complete Cuba before, but look successful nan southeastern Gulf of Mexico arsenic a hurricane.

Cubans person already been struggling pinch blackouts while recovering from different hurricane 2 weeks agone that killed astatine slightest six group successful nan eastbound portion of nan island.

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory for Cuba connected Tuesday afternoon, offering departure flights to non-essential unit and American citizens, and advising others to “reconsider recreation to Cuba owed to nan imaginable effect of Tropical Storm Rafael.”

On Tuesday morning, nan Cuban Civil Defense called connected Cubans to hole arsenic soon arsenic possible, because erstwhile nan large wind makes landfall “it’s important to enactment wherever you are.”

Silvia Pérez, a 72-year-old retiree surviving successful a coastal area of Havana was among those scrambling to prepare. As different neighbors moved appliances and different furnishings from crushed level homes, worried astir floods, Pérez stocked up connected h2o and food.

“This is simply a nighttime I don’t want to slumber through, betwixt nan battering aerial and nan trees,” Pérez said. “I’m frightened for my friends and family.”

A hurricane informing was successful effect connected Wednesday for a information of nan Cayman Islands and nan Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and nan Isle of Youth.

A tropical large wind informing was successful effect for nan Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, arsenic good arsenic nan little and mediate Florida Keys from Key West to westbound of nan Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

The large wind connected Tuesday knocked retired powerfulness successful parts of Jamaica and unleashed flooding and landslides. The Jamaica Public Service, nan island’s energy provider, said successful a connection precocious Tuesday that impassable roads were preventing crews from restoring powerfulness successful immoderate areas.

Power outages were reported crossed nan Cayman Islands aft a nonstop deed precocious Tuesday, and schools remained closed connected Wednesday.

“While conditions person improved connected Grand Cayman, residents are advised to workout utmost be aware connected nan roads and adjacent coastlines arsenic unsmooth seas and residual flooding risks whitethorn persist,” nan authorities said successful a statement.

Heavy rainfall besides was expected to dispersed northbound into Florida and adjacent areas of nan southeast U.S. during nan mediate to precocious portion of nan week. The Hurricane Center predicted large wind surges successful Florida could scope 1 to 3 feet successful Dry Tortugas and 1 to 2 feet successful nan Lower Florida Keys. A fewer tornadoes besides were expected Wednesday complete nan Keys and southwestern Florida.

Rafael is nan 17th named large wind of nan season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted nan 2024 hurricane play was apt to beryllium good supra average, pinch betwixt 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast called for arsenic galore arsenic 13 hurricanes and 4 awesome hurricanes.

An mean Atlantic hurricane play produces 14 named storms, 7 of them hurricanes and 3 awesome hurricanes.

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Associated Press newsman Megan Janetsky contributed to this study from Mexico City.

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