TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Rafael strengthens as it moves near Jamaica, the National Hurricane Center said. Located 65 miles southwest of Montego Bay Jamaica, maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph.

A hurricane could enter the Gulf of Mexico as soon as Wednesday, after striking western Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The outer bands could sweep the Florida Keys and send some rain over the peninsula later in the week but the initial forecast track kept the core of the still-developing system far from a Florida Gulf Coast still cleaning up from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

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 Rafael gained steam late on Monday as it churned northward toward Cuba, which is still struggling to recover from a nationwide blackout and hurricane two weeks ago.