NHC The Florida Keys are now under a tropical storm warning as Tropical Storm Rafael approaches the Cayman Islands, potentially setting up western Cuba for a hurricane hit on Wednesday. As the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico, its outer bands could bring ...

Steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours, and Rafael is forecast to become a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

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.