After slamming Cuba, Hurricane Rafael to head west across the Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Rafael, now a Category 2 storm, is charting a westward course across the Gulf of Mexico after making a powerful landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm caused substantial damage, including disruptions to the already strained electrical grid in Cuba. Forecasters indicate that unfavorable conditions, such as high wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures, will likely lead to the weakening of Rafael as it approaches the Mexican coastline this Sunday. The National Hurricane Center has reported that by this time, Rafael could downgrade to a tropical storm. Although the tropical storm warning for the Dry Tortugas has been lifted, forecasters caution that life-threatening surf and rip currents could affect areas throughout the Gulf.

Additionally, the chances of a new tropical disturbance forming north of Puerto Rico and Haiti remain low, with only a 20% chance of development in the coming days. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Caribbean in managing hurricane impacts. With the next name on the list being Sara, the region continues to brace for the unpredictable nature of hurricane season.