Hurricane Rafael has strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it approaches the western coast of Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Rafael rapidly intensified into a major category 3 storm in the Caribbean as it neared the western coast of Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Rafael continued to lose steam in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday after striking Cuba as a Category 3 major hurricane one day earlier. As of 7 a.m., Rafael was still a Category 2