Tropical Storm Rafael became a Category 3 major hurricane Wednesday afternoon as it nears the coast of western Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said.In a 2 p.m. ET update, the NHC said Rafael was 70 miles south of Havana,

The hurricane is in rarified air for storms in November, but will be in much different shape as it approaches the US.

The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael grew into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday ahead of landfall in Cuba as it headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remained under a tropical storm warning.