BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Hurricane Rafael is expected to make landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday afternoon before it makes its way into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Satellite data and preliminary reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that the maximum sustained winds of Rafael have increased to 115 mph. Its central minimum pressure is 956 mb and the storm is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. A general northwestward motion is anticipated over the next day or so, followed by a gradual west-northwestward turn in the Gulf of Mexico. Some additional strengthening is likely before Rafael makes landfall in Cuba on Wednesday afternoon. Will Louisiana have a cold or warm winter? NOAA releases 2024-25 weather outlook Rafael is forecast to weaken over Cuba, but the storm is expected to emerge from the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. Based on the latest model guidance, it appears that Rafael will begin to weaken in the central Gulf of Mexico this weekend. As a result of its location and distance, outer bands of showers and thunderstorms will be possible across southern Louisiana over the weekend. Right now, Rafael is not expected to make landfall in Louisiana but there is still uncertainty in the exact track of the system especially late in the weekend and early next week. Latest News Taste of the Town: Eat shrimp and grits, red beans and rice at Sweet & Savory in Gonzales Searches for 'moving to Canada' spike during U.S. presidential election St. Tammany Parish crash leaves Denham Springs man dead Louisiana Legislature begins work on tax reform overhaul Trump builds on Latino support, helping pave way to victory