Once a powerful Category 3 hurricane, Rafael has significantly weakened and downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico. See the latest:

Another tropical storm is likely to develop in the Caribbean late next week. This storm will be called “Rafael”. Here’s what the Hurricane Center says: “Southwestern Caribbean Sea:Disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Caribbean Sea are associated with a broad area of low pressure.

Rafael has entered an unfavorable area in the Gulf of Mexico, but will indirectly bring a lot of rainfall to parts of Texas and Louisiana

Hurricane Rafael was downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued westward in the Gulf of Mexico posing no threat to land for now while the National Hurricane Center kept track of another system with low odds to develop into the next tropical depression or storm.

Tropical Storm Rafael will continue to spin and weaken in the Gulf before heading south towards the Bay of Campeche.

Tropical Storm Rafael is showing less organization but still having impacts along the US Gulf Coast. A landfall is not expected but beach hazards will persist though the weekend.