Hurricane Rafael is passing through the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and is forecast to rapidly intensify before making landfall in western Cuba, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Rafael strengthened to near hurricane intensity Tuesday night, as it barreled toward the Cayman Islands and Cuba, where it was forecast to hit as a hurricane.The storm was located 25 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday after passing by Jamaica,

A broad area of low pressure in the western Caribbean Sea is becoming better organized and the National Hurricane Center is initiating advisories on the system as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

Raphel comes as Cuba struggles to rebuild its collapsed electricity grid, which failed completely following the passage of Hurricane Oscar. It is feared that any significant impact from Raphael would once again plunge the nation into an extended period of darkness. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for Jamaica.

Rafael is expected to become a hurricane during the next several hours as it passes near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba tomorrow.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued its ninth advisory, warning that Tropical Storm Rafael has gained strength and is forecasted to become

Tropical Storm Rafael strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane Tuesday evening near the Cayman Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Rafael was rapidly picking up steam on Tuesday afternoon as it chugged toward the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, and will likely become a hurricane in the next few hours, according to the U.