Hurricane Rafael turns west after battering Cuba and knocking out power grid

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.

The storm is now about 195 miles west of Key West, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, moving northwest at 9 mph, the National Hurricane Center said at 7 a.m. ET.

Rafael will continue to move away from western Cuba on Thursday and will weaken over the central Gulf of Mexico.

“On the forecast track, Rafael is expected to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico for the next few days,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Due to the track and rapid weakening, little to no impacts are expected for the Gulf Coast except for some rip current risk and minor coastal flooding.

There are no longer any coastal watches or warnings in effect, and a previous tropical storm warning for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys has been lifted.

Two to 4 inches of additional rainfall is expected Thursday, which would bring storm total accumulations to 12 inches across western Cuba, which could lead to “areas of flash flooding and mudslides, especially along the higher terrain.”

Locals in Cuba rode out the hurricane in the dark after Cuba’s state-run grid operator UNE said the high winds had caused the country’s electrical system to collapse — marking at least the second such incident in less than a month on the island, Reuters reported.

“We have been without power throughout the country since approximately 3 p.m. We are lighting ourselves with flashlights. We have gas, so we are cooking with gas, thank God. Many people do not have that option and have to cook with fuel. We are without electricity. I hope all the power will be restored when the storm is over,” Havana resident Mabel Suarez told Reuters. 

The fierce winds and heavy pelting rain caused downed trees and power lines. Schools were closed, public transport was suspended on parts of the island and authorities canceled flights in and out of Havana and Varadero due to Rafael, The Associated Press reported.