Hurricane Rafael Intensifies to Major Storm Nearing Cuban Landfall

Hurricane Rafael has intensified into a Category 3 storm as it approaches Cuba, with landfall expected Wednesday afternoon before moving into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm has sustained winds of 115 mph and is causing tropical storm warnings in the Florida Keys and parts of Cuba. Rafael is expected to weaken over Cuba but remain a hurricane as it enters the Gulf. The storm poses a risk of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and mudslides in Cuba, with uncertain impacts on the northern Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring another potential system near the Caribbean.