Rafael strengthens to Category 1 hurricane as it churns toward Cuba

Tropical storm Rafael strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday as it swirled past the Cayman Islands and chugged toward western Cuba.

It was another stroke of bad news for Cuba, which has been struggling with blackouts while recovering from another hurricane last month that killed at least six people in the eastern part of the island.

Forecasters warned that Rafael was expected to slam into Cuba on Wednesday after dumping rain on Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of floods, storm surges and mudslides.

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory for Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, offering departure flights to non-essential staff and American citizens, and advising others to "reconsider travel to Cuba" because of the storm.

On Tuesday morning, Cuba'scivil defenceauthorities called on social media for Cubans to prepare as soon as possible because when the storm makes landfall, "it's important to stay where you are."

The day before, authorities said they had issued an evacuation order for 37,000 people for eastern Cuba, in the province of Guantanamo, due to bad weather.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning was in effect forthe Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

The warning was lifted in Jamaica after the storm passed by the western coast.A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey and Las Tunas.

Schools, government offices close in Cayman Islands

In the Cayman Islands, officials closed schools and government offices as they urged residents to prepare. Long lines were reported at grocery stores as the storm approached.

Cayman Islands Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly told Radio Cayman that schools would remain closed on Wednesday.

The British territory was setting up its own preparations and bracing for damageto infrastructure, power lines and water systems, the government said in a statement.

Forecasters warned that Rafael would unleash heavy rains across the western Caribbean that could lead to flooding and mudslides in parts of Cuba and the Cayman Islands.