Rafael strengthened into a hurricane before the its projected impact on Cuba Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Rafael was rapidly picking up steam on Tuesday afternoon as it chugged toward the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, and will likely become a hurricane in the next few hours, according to the U.

Tropical Storm Rafael formed Monday afternoon in the Caribbean Sea, where it is expected to cross Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Islands, and Cuba, before entering the Gulf of Mexico this week. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before weakening back down to a tropical storm in the Gulf.