Hurricane Rafael has strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as it impacts Cuba before moving into the Gulf of Mexico.

ToplineHurricane Rafael strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday as the storm is expected to make landfall in western Cuba, which faces “life-threatening” storm surges and flash floods before likely impacting the Florida Keys and other states later this week,

As per the National Hurricane Center's 1 pm Wednesday update, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael is 40 miles northeast of the Isle of Youth and 85 miles south of Havana Cuba, with maximum sustained wind of 115 mph. It’s moving at 14 mph to the northwest.