Even without a landfall in Florida, the state is expected to feel some impacts from Rafael, starting as early as today.

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael will grow into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday before it strikes Cuba and moves into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning.

Hurricane Rafael continued to intensify on Wednesday, strengthening to a powerful Category 2 storm as it blew past the Cayman Islands and closed in on Cuba.