Hurricane Rafael originates in Caribbean: NPR

According to the National Hurricane Center, Rafael strengthened into a hurricane as it approached the Cayman Islands. The storm will move over Cuba and enter the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane.

Screenshot by National Hurricane Center/via NPR

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Screenshot by National Hurricane Center/via NPR

Rafael has stepped up into a hurricane as it moves through the southern Caribbean Sea.

The Category 1 storm has maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour and will move across the Cayman Islands overnight. It is expected to be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday and move into the Gulf of Mexico later in the day.

forecaster on National Hurricane Center They say that “stable to rapid intensification” is expected over the next 18 hours and that it is expected to be a Category 2 storm when it hits western Cuba with “destructive hurricane-force winds, a dangerous storm surge and damaging Waves”.

Heavy rain is forecast for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba until early Thursday. Isolated water totals of up to ten inches are expected in higher terrain, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

Fishermen get their boats out of the water on Tuesday before Hurricane Rafael reaches Havana. Cuba was preparing for Rafael, who is expected to land on the island on Wednesday, adding to the misery caused by a massive power outage and Hurricane Oscar.

Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty Images

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Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty Images

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the lower and central Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas, where up to 3 inches of rain is forecast. A Only a few tornadoes are possible Wednesday over the Keys and inland southwest Florida.

Although further strengthening is forecast, the storm is expected to weaken after it enters the Gulf of Mexico due to wind shear and cooler waters. Meteorologists caution that it is still too early to determine what, if any, impact Rafael could have on parts of the northern Gulf Coast.

Rafael is the seventh Atlantic hurricane to form since September 25. According to hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, this is the highest hurricane recorded since 1870.