Raphael got stronger into a hurricane As it moves across the southern Caribbean Sea.

A Category 1 storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is approaching the Cayman Islands. It will be near or over west of Cuba on Wednesday and move toward the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night.

Forecasters National Hurricane Center They say “steady to rapid intensification” is expected over the next 24 hours.

Heavy rain is expected in parts of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba early Thursday. Isolated totals of up to 10 inches are expected in upland areas, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Lower and Central Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas, where up to three inches of rain is expected. A. a few tornadoes possible tomorrow in the Keys and inland Southwest Florida.

While additional strengthening is expected, the storm is expected to turn into a tropical storm when it enters the Gulf of Mexico due to wind loss and cool waters.

Meteorologists warn that it’s too early to determine what impacts Rafael might have on the northern Gulf Coast.

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