Tropical Storm Rafael strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday as it swirled past the Cayman Islands and chugged toward western Cuba.

Even without a landfall in Florida, the state is expected to feel some impacts from Rafael, starting as early as today.

Tropical Storm Rafael became a Category 3 major hurricane Wednesday afternoon as it nears the coast of western Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.In a 2 p.m. ET update, the NHC said Rafael was 70 miles south of Havana,