Hurricane Rafael is continuing to strengthen as it approaches landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rafael lashed the Cayman Islands in the western Caribbean with strong winds and heavy rain Tuesday night, and the Category 1 hurricane is expected to keep strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba on Wednesday.

Hurricane Rafael is swirling past the Cayman Islands and is expected to rapidly intensify until making landfall in western Cuba, where it’s forecast to hit as a Category 2 hurricane.