Hurricane Rafael has turned to the west after lashing Cuba, where it knocked out the country’s electrical grid, leaving its 10 million residents in the dark. Rafael had strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane before it made landfall in the Cuban province of Artemisa, and weakened to a Category 2 shortly after making landfall Wednesday afternoon.

With winds of 105 mph, Rafael remained at Category 2 strength, which it had weakened to as it barreled across the island. Meteorologists discontinued the storm-related advisories and watches as Rafael was expected to "meander over the south-central Gulf of Mexico this weekend and early next week,