NHC The Florida Keys are now under a tropical storm warning as Tropical Storm Rafael approaches the Cayman Islands, potentially setting up western Cuba for a hurricane hit on Wednesday. As the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico, its outer bands could bring ...

Steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours, Rafael became a Category 1 hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

Hurricane Rafael swirled past the Cayman Islands and was expected to rapidly intensify until making landfall on Wednesday in western Cuba, where it's forecast to hit as a Category 2 hurricane. Read more: How rare are November hurricanes in the Gulf? Rafael will be one of few in history.