Hurricane Rafael now Cat. 3 storm as it heads toward Cuba

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 meteorologists are monitoring Hurricane Rafael as it continues to strengthen.

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1:00 p.m. update:

The Nationa Hurricane Center said Rafael is now a category 3 hurricane as it continues on a path toward Cuba Wednesday.

The 1 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center had winds of 115 mph, making Rafael a Category 3 major hurricane.

Rafael will make landfall as a major hurricane in Cuba later today and then move into the southern Gulf of Mexico later tonight.

The system will slowly weaken as it moves westward across the southern Gulf, and it is expected to be a tropical storm by this weekend.

Tropical Storm Warnings continue for the Lower Florida Keys, but the storm will not impact most of the state.

7:15 a.m. update:

The National Hurricane Center confirmed Rafael has strengthened into a Category 2 storm.

It is projected to maintain Category 2 strength as it makes landfall in western Cuba later Wednesday.

Original report:

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said Rafael’s maximum sustained winds had increased to near 90 mph.

Rafael, a small but powerful storm, will move into western Cuba on Wednesday, possibly as a major hurricane.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said the storm will then travel into the central Gulf of Mexico.

READ: Warm Wednesday with showers possible in Central Florida

Rafael will stay away from Florida, Shields said.

As we move closer to the weekend, Shields said Rafael will head toward the western and northern Gulf, where it will be on a weakening trend.

Shields said if it weakens enough, it is actually possible that we won’t see a U.S. landfall with this storm.

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• Chief meteorologist Tom Terry
• Brian Shields
• Kassandra Crimi
• David Heckard

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