Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 2, Cuba issues evacuation orders
Hurricane Rafael has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and is expected to make landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday. The storm has already caused heavy rain in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, leading to flooding and power outages. Cuba is on high alert, with authorities urging residents to prepare for the storm. An evacuation order was issued for 37,000 people in eastern Cuba, and a hurricane warning is in effect for several provinces. The U.S. State Department has advised American citizens to reconsider travel to Cuba. Forecasters warn of potential flooding, storm surges, and mudslides in Cuba and the Cayman Islands, with heavy rains expected to spread into Florida later this week.