Hurricane Rafael barreled toward Cuba on Wednesday, forecast to make landfall in western Cuba as a major Category 3 hurricane that forecasters warn could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods.

Thousands of people in the west of the island were evacuated as a prevention measure before Rafael was expected to slam into Cuba on Wednesday after dumping rain on Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday.

Classes and public transport were suspended on parts of the island as authorities issued an alarm for the incoming weather for the west of the country. Workers secured buildings and cleaned up garbage along Havana’s coastline in preparation for floods.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” warned the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Rafael – currently classified as a Category 2 hurricane – was located about 60 miles (95 kilometers) east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and around 130 miles (205 kilometers) south-southeast of Havana Wednesday. It had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph) and was moving northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), according to the center.

Source – ABC11