HAVANA (Reuters) -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.

Hurricane Rafael has strengthened into a Category 2 storm just hours before it was forecast to make landfall on Wednesday in western Cuba

Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to become a hurricane by the end of Wednesday. Rafael is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads toward Cuba. “Rafael is expected to become a hurricane as it passes near the Cayman Islands with further strengthening before it makes landfall in Cuba,” according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.