Cuba is bracing for Hurricane Rafael, which is expected to make landfall Wednesday and compound the misery wrought by a recent power blackout and Hurricane Oscar.The storm was expected to gain further power before making landfall in western Cuba.

Once the storm crosses Cuba and enters the Gulf of Mexico, conditions get less friendly. The hurricane center predicts that Rafael ... will experience sustained tropical storm force winds this week are low — around 9% for Miami and 18% for Fort Lauderdale.

Tropical Depression 18 formed Monday morning, and is expected to get the name Rafael before moving into the Gulf of Mexico this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.