Hurricane Rafael strengthens to category 2 storm as it bears down on Cuba

Hurricane Rafael continued to intensify connected Wednesday, strengthening to a almighty Category 2 tempest arsenic it blew past the Cayman Islands and closed successful connected Cuba.

With windspeeds of 110 mph, Hurricane Rafael was located astir 60 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth, and astir 130 miles south-southeast of Havana arsenic of 10 a.m., according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. It’s presently moving northwest astatine astir 14 mph, putting it connected way to onslaught Cuba astatine immoderate constituent Wednesday evening.

In the past 24 hours, Rafael’s windspeeds person increased immoderate 50 mph — and the tempest has imaginable to further fortify into a Category 3 storm earlier it makes landfall. Forecasters warned it could bring a life-threatening tempest surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding to swaths of occidental Cuba.

Heavy rainfall from the hurricane was already falling crossed parts of Cuba Wednesday morning, and it is expected to proceed done Thursday, with the anticipation of double-digit rainfall totals. It comes aft Rafael ripped past Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, drenching some spots with immoderate superior rain.

Ahead of the hurricane’s arrival, the Cuban Civil Defense connected Tuesday called for residents to marque their last preparations, noting that “it’s important to enactment wherever you are” erstwhile the tempest yet hits. Authorities besides issued an evacuation bid for 37,000 radical successful acold eastbound Cuba, successful the state of Guantanamo, citing the atrocious weather.

“Preparations to support beingness and spot should beryllium rushed to completion,” warned the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane informing is successful effect Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, on with the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth. A tropical tempest informing meantime was issued for a fistful of different Cuban provinces, arsenic good arsenic the little and mediate Florida Keys from Key West to westbound of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

Forecasters expect the tempest volition yet weaken implicit Cuba earlier emerging successful the southeastern Gulf of Mexico arsenic a hurricane. But what, if any, menace Rafael poses to the Gulf Coast is inactive unclear. Earlier successful the week, forecast models enactment Alabama and the Florida Panhandle successful the storm’s crosshairs. The existent track, however, has shifted somewhat west, suggesting Rafael could perchance interaction anyplace from Louisiana to northeastern Mexico.

With News Wire Services