Hurricane Rafael strengthened on Wednesday with winds of 180 kilometers per hour south of Cuba.

Rafael is near the Isle of Youth, Cuba, and will make landfall in western Cuba later on Wednesday. Rafael is expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico this evening.

The system will not impact the Florida peninsula due to a high-pressure ridge steering the tropical storm west of the state.

Models now suggest the hurricane may never reach the United States.

During the latter part of the forecast period, it appears that a mid-height ridge could form north of the tropical cyclone, forcing Rafael to turn west or southwest this weekend.

This is a major shift from previous projections showing landfall from Louisiana to Texas and should be monitored for further confirmation in future model runs.

Additionally, hostile weather conditions are expected to develop in the Gulf, making strengthening less favorable and could weaken Hurricane Rafael before a potential landfall.

We also see a trough of low pressure causing disorganized showers and thunderstorms east and northeast of the Leeward Islands.

This system is expected to move largely westward over the next few days, and an area of ​​low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands this evening or Thursday.

Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible through the end of the week and early into the weekend as it moves near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and approaches the southeastern Bahamas.