The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Wednesday that the eye of Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, is nearing the southern coast of western Cuba.
On social media platform X, the NHC indicated that "Rafael is approaching the west of Cuba and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours."
“The next update will be provided in the full notice at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time,” the monitoring center noted in its statement.
The Forecast Center of the Meteorological Institute, in its bulletin 12 at 3:00 p.m., reported that the center of the hurricane was located at 22.4 degrees North latitude and 82.6 degrees West longitude, positioning it 35 kilometers south-southwest of Cajío beach and 60 kilometers southeast of San Cristóbal, both in the province of Artemisa.
"This entity has maintained a trajectory close to the northwest at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour over the last few hours," stated INSMET.
Furthermore, it was noted that during this afternoon, Hurricane Rafael continued to rapidly increase in intensity, with sustained maximum winds rising to 185 kilometers per hour, categorizing it as a major hurricane, a category three on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Its minimum central pressure has continued to drop to 956 hectoPascals.
However, the effects of Hurricane Rafael have been felt in various parts of Cuba. In Havana, for instance, it was raining in several areas of the capital.
The powerful Hurricane Rafael is approaching Cuban shores amid a complex situation with the National Electric System, which has collapsed in recent hours due to the effects of the winds.
The official newspaper El Artemiseño stated on Facebook that "the eye wall is approaching the western coast of Cuba. In the next two hours, strong gusts of wind will move inland in parts of Artemisa."
The news portal also reported that Cuban broadcasters have set up phone numbers for the public to stay informed during Hurricane Rafael. The numbers are as follows: Radio Reloj at 80073565; Radio 26 at 45247927 or 18899; Radio Ciudad del Mar at 43510090 or 18899; Radio Cadena Agramonte at 18899; and Radio Mayabeque at 18899, providing access to updated information and real-time recommendations.
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