Hurricane Rafael 2024 path: Jamaica, Cuba [Video]

HAVANA –

Rafael strengthened Wednesday into a powerful Category 3 hurricane ahead of its expected landfall in Cuba.

Forecasters warn that Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods on western swathes of the island, after knocking out power and dumping rain on the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

It was expected it hit the Isle of Youth in the coming hours and make landfall later on Wednesday. Forecasters expected the storm to later weaken over Cuba, but emerge on the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Rafael barrelled toward Cuba on Wednesday, forecast to make landfall in western Cuba as a major Category 3 hurricane that forecasters warn could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods.

Thousands of …