LIVE MAP: Track the path of Hurricane Rafael

HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Rafael hit Cuba on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, shortly after strong winds knocked out the country’s power grid.

Forecasters warned that Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, high winds and flash floods to western parts of the island, following a power outage and rainfall in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica a day earlier.

The storm was located 40 miles (65 kilometers) south-southwest of Havana on Wednesday. According to the National Hurricane Center, maximum sustained winds were 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) and moving northwest at a speed of 14 miles per hour (22 km/h).

The storm is bad news for Cuba, which is struggling with devastating power outages while recovering from another hurricane two weeks ago that killed at least six people in the eastern part of the island.

On Wednesday, the Cuban government issued a warning about the impending storm, while crews in Havana worked to fortify buildings and clear debris from coastal areas in anticipation of flooding.

Classes and public transportation were suspended on parts of the island and authorities canceled flights to and from Havana and Varadero. Meanwhile, thousands of people in the west of the island were evacuated as a preventive measure.

Silvia Pérez, a 72-year-old retiree who lives in a coastal area of ​​Havana, was among those struggling to prepare. While other neighbors cleared appliances and other furniture from downstairs homes, Pérez stocked up on water and food.

“This is a night I don’t want to sleep through between the oppressive air and the trees,” Pérez said. “I’m scared for my friends and family.”

Meteorologists expected the storm to weaken over Cuba before becoming a hurricane in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory for Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, offering departure flights for non-essential personnel and American citizens and advising others to “reconsider travel to Cuba due to the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Rafael.”

On Tuesday morning, Cuban Civil Defense urged Cubans to prepare as quickly as possible because if the storm makes landfall, “it is important to stay where you are.”

A hurricane warning was in effect on Wednesday for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as the lower and central Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and Dry Tortugas.

Tuesday’s storm knocked out power in parts of Jamaica and triggered flooding and landslides. The Jamaica Public Service, the island’s electricity provider, said in a statement late Tuesday that impassable roads prevented crews from restoring power in some areas.

Power outages were reported in the Cayman Islands after a direct hit late Tuesday and schools remained closed on Wednesday.

“While conditions have improved on Grand Cayman, residents are advised to exercise extreme caution on roads and near the coast as rough seas and residual flooding risks may remain,” a government statement said.

Heavy rains were also expected to spread north into Florida and adjacent areas of the southeastern United States during the middle to late part of the week. The Hurricane Center forecast that storm surges in Florida could reach up to 3 feet in Dry Tortugas and between 1 and 2 feet in the Lower Florida Keys. A few tornadoes were also expected over the Keys and southwest Florida on Wednesday.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the 2024 hurricane season would likely be well above average, with 17 to 25 named storms. The forecast called for up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

— Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press

Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed from Mexico City.