Hurricane Rafael strengthens to powerful Category 3 storm as it heads to Cuba

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Rafael on Wednesday (NOAA via AP)

Rafael has strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane ahead of its expected landfall in western Cuba, where it was forecast to bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods.

The storm, which knocked out power and dumped rain on the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, churned past the Isle of Youth and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours on Wednesday.