Hurricane Rafael barrels through Cayman Islands

Men relocate furniture from a restaurant prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Rafael in Havana, Cuba, November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

(Reuters) -Hurricane Rafael is passing through the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and is forecast to rapidly intensify before making landfall in western Cuba, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Rafael was blowing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) after skirting past western Jamaica around mid-day. The hurricane was located about 60 miles (95 km) east north-east of Grand Cayman, according to the NHC's latest advisory.