MIAMI – Hurricane Raphael It continues to intensify as it rotates across the Caribbean Sea, and forecasters now say the late-season storm should become a major force hurricane before making landfall, expected to reach Cuba on Wednesday.

Millions of people are on this path We Gulf Coast Texas with Florida They are eyeing the hurricane that hit Cuba with devastating hurricane force windslife-threatening storm surge and devastating waves along the coast.

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

Rafael is threatening parts of the Western Caribbean as it travels toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico, and the NHC said it was concerned that heavy rains could lead to deaths. flash flood And mudslides In the highlands of Cuba.

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tropical storm Conditions in the lower and central Florida Keys are expected to begin later Wednesday and continue through Wednesday night.

Heavy rain It is expected in the Western Caribbean through Thursday, especially the Cayman Islands and Western Cuba. Rainfall totals of 4-8 inches are expected in some parts of Cuba, with locally higher amounts of up to 12 inches expected on higher ground, the NHC said. Another 2-4 inches could fall in the Cayman Islands.

Rainfall totals are expected to be 1-3 inches in the lower and central Florida Keys.

Forecasters are also concerned about the potential for a life-threatening storm surge. The NHC said there was a storm surge of 30 to 14 feet above normal high tide levels in areas with onshore winds along the south coast of Cuba within the Hurricane Warning area, including the Isle of Youth.

A storm surge of 1-3 feet is expected for the Dry Tortugas National park area and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.

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According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Rafael is about 60 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and moving northwest at 14 mph.

The Rafael’s maximum sustained wind speed is 180 miles per hour, making it a high-end vehicle Category 2 hurricane. The official forecast calls for the hurricane to intensify, with winds reaching 185 miles per hour. Category 3 hurricane.

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A. Tornado Warning It remains in effect in Western Cuba, including Havana.

Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the lower and central Florida Keys key west To the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas. Central Cuba is also under a Tropical Storm Warning.

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Rafael is expected to continue moving northwestward over the next day or two, then make a gradual turn to the west-northwestward in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the NHC. On this track, Rafael is expected to move near or just east of the Isle of Youth in the next few hours and reach western Cuba later Wednesday. Rafael will then appear in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night.

From this, computer forecast models are in disagreement about exactly where Rafael will go next.

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

Original article source: As late-season storm intensifies, Rafael is poised to become a major hurricane before reaching Cuba