Category 2 Rafael in Gulf, Caribbean System Threatens 

United States: Hurricane Rafael, which was initially in the Category 3 storm overnight, has almost weakened to a strong Category 2 hurricane with the strong winds of 110 mph and it is moving away from Florida and the U.S. into the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to weaken more over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

While this is happening, a low-pressure system near Puerto Rico is causing heavy rain and storms, but it is not likely to become a big storm. 

Rafael caused heavy rain in western Cuba, knocking out power across the island. It has now moved westward, away from Florida, and is not expected to make landfall in the U.S. 

As reported by Now press, “As Rafael takes this west-southwest track it will be subjected to more wind shear interferes with breezes, continue to lose intensity of wind strength,” said Accuweather meteorologist, Bernie Rayno. 

Technically well-developed swells from Rafael resulted to dangerous surf and rip current along the Gulf Coast for the next several days. 

Interests in the southern and southwestern Gulf of Mexico should keep abreast of the progress of this system. 

The following name of the storm shall be Sara. 

Here’s the latest update from the NHC as of 9 a.m. CST Friday, Nov. 8. 

Special note on the NHC cone: This attack provides a graphical representation of the most probable course of the center of the storm. In particular, it does not show the breadth of a storm or the effects, and the eye of the storm will go outside the cone 33 percent of the time.  

Location: 24. Latitude: 5°N Longitude: 88.8°W, approximately 230NM north northeast of Progreso, Mexico, approximately 535NM east of the mouth of the Rio Grande 

Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph 

Present movement: West at 9 mph 

Minimum central pressure: 961 MB 

That was at 9 a.m. CST of today, and the storm was at 24.5 N latitude, 88.8 W longitude. Rafael is moving toward the west near 9 mph. However, it will move west northwestward more slowly in the next 24 hours. After that, Rafael will drift across the central Gulf of Mexico through early next week. 

There are estimated to be nearly 80 kts or 110 mph with higher gusts. Slow diminishing is anticipated over the course of the subsequent few days. 

Those with hurricane force goes up to the almost 30 miles while those with tropical-storm-force winds go up to the almost 90 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 961 millibars or 28.38 inches.