Hurricane Rafael, a Category 2 storm, will maintain hurricane intensity through at least the end of the week

(WALA) – Hurricane Rafael moved away from western Cuba on Wednesday evening and headed into the Gulf of Mexico as a severe hurricane.

At the time of reporting at 9 p.m., Rafael was a Category 2 system traveling at 105 miles per hour. It was moving northwest at a speed of 13 mph (21 km/h) and the forecast direction suggests a more westerly track, with the storm expected to maintain hurricane intensity at least through the end of the week.

The further west it goes, the more likely it is to encounter hostile upper ocean headwinds and cooler sea surface temperatures. This hostile environment will likely result in Rafael becoming significantly weaker as the weekend begins. Long-range intensity models suggest it is unlikely to be a tropical storm on Sunday or Monday.

Due to Hurricane Rafael, we do not expect any significant local impacts here. Depending on the long distance route, it is quite possible that it won’t rain. If we see a little more of a turn toward Louisiana, we could see an increase in showers Saturday and Sunday. The risk of rip current remains high on beaches as Rafael moves to our south.

Our long-term forecast continues to look warmer than average. Overnight lows were about 20 degrees above normal and will remain that way for the rest of the week. Daytime highs will be in the low 80s, and there is a good chance of scattered rain each day. If Rafael continues to move further away from the area, the chance of rain over the weekend could be slightly lower.

We will continue to monitor the extended forecast.

Stay up to date with the latest from your FOX10 Weather team by downloading the free FOX10 Weather app.

Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.