Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, causing power outages and evacuations
Hurricane Rafael has made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, causing widespread power outages. The hurricane is expected to bring dangerous storm surges, high winds, and flash floods to western Cuba, where evacuations are underway. The storm previously affected Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, leading to power outages and flooding. In Cuba, the government has suspended classes and public transport in preparation for the storm's impact. Forecasters predict Rafael will weaken as it moves across Cuba before entering the Gulf of Mexico. Warnings are in effect for several Cuban provinces, and the U.S. State Department has advised against travel to Cuba due to the storm.