Hurricane Rafael strengthens to Category 3 near Cuba with warnings in effect
Hurricane Rafael has strengthened to a Category 3 storm and is expected to make landfall in western Cuba. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba, with life-threatening storm surges and flash floods anticipated. Tropical storm conditions are also expected in Florida later this week. This season has seen 17 named storms in the Atlantic, surpassing earlier forecasts of up to 13 hurricanes. Forecasters noted that the current hurricane season may be influenced by La Niña, which can lead to more severe storms. Above-average sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic are also contributing to increased storm activity.