Hurricane Rafael continues to intensify and strengthened into a Category 2 storm early Wednesday morning, and forecasters say it could be near major hurricane strength when it makes landfall in Cuba.

Rafael continues to strengthen and is now a Category 2 hurricane closing in on Cuba after lashing the Cayman Islands in the western Caribbean with strong winds and heavy rain Tuesday night.

TROPICAL UPDATE: Rafael now a Category 3 hurricane set to make landfall in Cuba, then move into the gulf. Story by Alan Holt, Kristin Walla, Carly Smith, Faith Colbert • 8mo.

Rafael continues to strengthen and is now expected to be a Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall in Cuba Wednesday. After that, a weakened Rafael will move into the warm waters of the Gulf ...

FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. — Hurricane Rafael, now a powerful Category 2 hurricane, could strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane later in the day before making landfall in Cuba on Wednesday night.

Hurricane Rafael has strengthened overnight. The Category 2 hurricane now has sustained winds of 100 mph. The storm will move through western Cuba today and into the Gulf of Mexico tonight and ...

Rafael continues to strengthen and is now expected to be a Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall in Cuba Wednesday. After that, a weakened Rafael will move into the warm waters of the Gulf ...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hurricane Rafael is now a Category 2 storm as it continues to make its way through the Caribbean Sea toward the Gulf of Mexico. On its path is Cuba, which is expected to ...

Hurricane Rafael appears to have veered to the west after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, marking the fifth major hurricane of the year.. The hurricane had wind speeds of 115 mph ...

Hurricane Rafael, a strong category 2 storm, has moved through Cuba on Wednesday night and is now heading toward the southeastern Gulf of Mexico . As of the 8 p.m. update, ...

Rafael has maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The official forecast calls for Rafael to intensify with winds of 110 mph, making it a high-end Category 2 hurricane.