CNN —While Tropical Storm Rafael winds remained consistent Monday night, the storm is forecast to strengthen Tuesday and become a hurricane Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the western Caribbean and southern Florida by midweek. Tropical storm watch alerts were issued for the Florida Keys on Monday, joining the existing warnings for Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The Cuban provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila, are under Tropical Storm Warnings after being upgraded from Tropical Storm Watch. Ilda Gallardo and her daughter Marley Millian watch a local TV news program as Tropical Storm Rafael approaches, in Playa Baracoa, Cuba, November 4, 2024. Tropical Storm Rafael will also create rough seas and significant storm surges, with expected inundation of up to 3 feet in the Cayman Islands and as much as 9 feet in western Cuba above normal tide levels.

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Persons: Rafael, Villa Clara, Sancti, Ciego de Avila, Ilda Gallardo, Marley, Norlys Perez, Milton, Michael Lowry Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, Islands, Hurricane, Wednesday, Florida, Tropical Storm, NHC, Reuters, Radio Jamaica News, Tropical Locations: Caribbean, Florida, Kingston , Jamaica, Grand, Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman, Cayman Islands, Gulf Coast, Cuban, Cienfuegos, Islands, Playa Baracoa, Mexico