Rafael strengthens into a major hurricane as the late-season storm hits Cuba with damaging winds

Hurricane Rafael continued to strengthen Wednesday, becoming a Category 3 cyclone with winds of 115 miles per hour. The storm continues into the Gulf of Mexico after hitting Cuba. FOX weather correspondent Brandy Campbell reports from Key West, where Rafael fears flooding.

MIAMI– Rafael continued to strengthen Wednesday afternoon, becoming a major hurricane as the late-night storm barreled toward Cuba, bringing damaging winds, flooding rain and a life-threatening storm surge.

As the island nation prepares for the impact, millions of people live along the US Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida We're keeping an eye on the Category 3 hurricane to see where the storm heads after it appears in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday evening.

HURRICANE RAFAEL TRACKER: FORECAST CONES, SPAGHETTI SLOTS, MAPS, WARNINGS AND MORE

Video shows Hurricane Rafael's winds beginning to hit the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, November 6, 2024, as the storm approached the area.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that while rapid strengthening occurred, Rafael is expected to briefly weaken as it rotates over western Cuba. However, the storm is forecast to remain at hurricane strength (74 mph or greater) as it enters the Gulf.

Rafael lashed parts of the western Caribbean as he traveled to Cuba and eventually the Gulf of Mexico, and the NHC said it was concerned that torrential rains could lead to flash floods and mudslides in Cuba's higher areas.

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Workers protect a facility from the arrival of Tropical Storm Rafael in Havana on November 5, 2024. Cuba was preparing for Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to hit the island as a hurricane on November 6, compounding the misery caused by its massive power outage and Hurricane Oscar. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP) (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)
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People protect the windows of a restaurant with cardboard before Tropical Storm Rafael arrives in Havana on November 5, 2024. Cuba was bracing for Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to hit the island as a hurricane on November 6, compounding the misery caused by a massive power outage and Hurricane Oscar. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP) (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fishermen protect their boats before the arrival of Tropical Storm Rafael in Havana on November 5, 2024. Cuba was preparing for Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to hit the island as a hurricane on November 6, making the misery caused by a more massive one Power outage and Hurricane Oscar. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP) (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fishermen take their boats out of the water before Tropical Storm Rafael hits Havana on November 5, 2024. Cuba was preparing for Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to hit the island as a hurricane on November 6, compounding the misery caused by a massive power outage and Hurricane Oscar. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP) (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Tropical storms are expected in the lower and central Florida Keys, beginning later Wednesday and extending into Wednesday night.

Heavy rain is expected across the western Caribbean through early Thursday, particularly in the Cayman Islands and western Cuba. The NHC said rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are expected in parts of Cuba, with locally higher amounts of up to 12 inches in higher terrain. An additional 2 to 4 inches could fall over the Cayman Islands.

Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected in the lower and central Florida Keys.

This video shows winds increasing across Key West as Hurricane Rafael spins hundreds of miles south in the Caribbean Sea. Key West is under a tropical storm warning and forecasters say the late-night storm could reach hurricane strength before making landfall in Cuba on Wednesday.

Meteorologists are also concerned about the possibility of a life-threatening storm surge. The NHC said a storm surge of 9 to 14 feet above normal flood levels was possible in areas with onshore winds along Cuba's southern coast within the hurricane warning area, including the Isle of Youth.

A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is forecast for the Dry Tortugas National Park area, with 1 to 2 feet forecast for the lower Florida Keys.

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Where is Hurricane Rafael?

This graphic shows the status of Hurricane Rafael.
(FOX Weather)

According to the latest report from the NHC, Rafael is located approximately 65 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and is moving northwest at 14 miles per hour.

Rafael has maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour, making it a top-level Category 3 hurricane.

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Hurricane and tropical storm warnings.

A hurricane warning remains in effect across western Cuba, including Havana.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the lower and central Florida Keys from Key West to the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for central Cuba.

What to do if hurricane or tropical storm watches and warnings are issued for your city?

What is the forecast for Hurricane Rafael?

According to the NHC, Rafael is expected to move further northwest over the next day or two, followed by a gradual turn toward the west-northwest in the Gulf of Mexico. On this route, Rafael is expected to move near or just east of the Isle of Youth in the next few hours and make landfall in western Cuba later on Wednesday. Rafael will then surface in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday evening.

From then on, computer forecast models disagree about exactly where Rafael is headed next.

“It is too early to determine what impact, if any, Rafael may have on portions of the northern Gulf Coast,” the NHC said. “Residents in this area should monitor forecast updates regularly.”

Where is Hurricane Rafael?

What is the forecast for Hurricane Rafael?

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