ToplineHurricane Rafael strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday as the storm is expected to make landfall in western Cuba, which faces “life-threatening” storm surges and flash floods before likely impacting the Florida Keys and other states later this week,

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael will grow into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday before it strikes Cuba and moves into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts Tropical Storm Rafael to grow into the season’s 11th hurricane Tuesday as it moves toward Cuba with winds and storm surge expected to affect the Florida Keys this week.