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

Forecasters warned that Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, gusty winds and flash flooding to western parts of the island after power was cut the day before and dumped rain on the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

The storm was located 40 miles southwest of Havana on Wednesday. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving northwest at a speed of 14 mph (22 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is bad news for Cuba, which is dealing with devastating power outages as it recovers 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 of the coming storm as crews in Havana worked to strengthen buildings and clear scrap metal from coastal areas in anticipation of flooding.

Classes and public transport were suspended in 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 preventively evacuated.

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

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

Forecasters expected the storm to weaken over Cuba before breaking out as a hurricane in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

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

On Tuesday morning, the Cuban Civil Defense called on Cubans to prepare as quickly as possible, because when 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 middle 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 caused flooding and landslides. The Jamaica Public Service, the island’s electricity provider, said in a statement late Tuesday that impassable roads were preventing 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.

“Although conditions have improved on Grand Cayman, residents are advised to exercise extreme caution on roads and near coastlines as rough seas and residual flood risk may persist,” the government said in a statement.

Heavy rain was also expected to spread northward into Florida and nearby areas of the southeastern U.S. during the mid to late part of the week. The Hurricane Center predicted 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 that the 2024 hurricane season would likely be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast called for as many as thirteen hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces fourteen named storms, seven of which are hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

—Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press

Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed from Mexico City.