Hurricane Rafael rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane in the Caribbean and is a few hours away from slamming into Cuba. The powerful hurricane is the fifth major hurricane of the year in the Atlantic and the strongest in the basin this late in the year since 2020.

Louisianans should watch Hurricane Rafael's progress in the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasters with the National Weather Service in New Orleans say the storm doesn't pose a threat to the Bayou State on its current path.

The wild late-season storm — which intensified by 50 mph over just 24 hours — was less than 85 miles from the island and expected to make landfall at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.