Rafael strengthened into a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea as it moves toward Cuba. It will continue to pass near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands through the early morning Wednesday, bringing widespread tropical storm-force winds, dangerous storm surge and destructive waves.

Rafael formed in the Caribbean Sea on Monday, Nov. 5. It's the 17th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Rafael is in the Caribbean Sea with max winds of 75 mph and is moving northwestward. It’s moving through an area of low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures, so development conditions are favorable through midweek.

It passed near Jamaica early on Tuesday, and will pass over the Cayman Islands into Wednesday morning as a category 1 hurricane.

Rafael will continue to strengthen into Wednesday morning and may flirt with category-two status when it impacts Cuba Wednesday. Hurricane conditions are likely in western and central Cuba Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Lower and Middle Florida Keys beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night.

Rafael will move into the southern Gulf of Mexico by late Wednesday, passing the Florida Keys through Thursday as it moves north. There is a lot of uncertainty in the long-range forecast of Rafael's track and intensity, but strong upper-level winds in the Gulf of Mexico should limit intensification as it moves toward the Gulf Coast.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands, along with western Cuba.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for central Cuba, the Lower and Middle Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for parts of eastern Cuba.

Check to see how the rest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is going so far.

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