Hurricane Rafael has strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it continues to approach Cuba, where it is expected to make landfall later on Wednesday, November 6 – but forecasters say the storm’s path will become more unpredictable once it enters the Gulf of Mexico.

As the storm moved closer to Cuba, the National Hurricane Center shared in a Wednesday afternoon update that Rafael had intensified and become a Category 3 hurricane.

The storm is expected to cause “life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane force winds and flash flooding in parts of western Cuba,” officials said, who also warned that “there is greater than normal uncertainty about Rafael’s intensity later.” in the forecast period.”

According to AccuWeather, Rafael became a hurricane on Tuesday, November 5, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour. Hours later the wind had increased to 160 km/h.

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However, due to another “non-tropical storm” in the south-central US, forecasters say there is a high chance of the next direction.

“Once in the Gulf of Mexico, small differences in Rafael intensity and atmospheric steering winds could have a significant impact on the final trajectory,” said Bill Deger, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.

If it makes landfall in the US this weekend, the best chance is along the Louisiana coast, according to the outlet.

But the hurricane could also move westward across the Gulf – or break up completely.

“It is also possible that Rafael will be torn apart by strong winds high in the atmosphere and disappear into the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall,” Deger added.

While the storm is not expected to make landfall in Florida, rain could be an issue for the Florida Keys, as could possible tornadoes. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for the lower and middle Florida Keys The news press.