Article first published: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, 9 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, 3 p.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center’s 3 pm Friday advisory reported that Rafael has lost strength and has downgraded from a Category 3 hurricane to a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph. Category 2 Hurricane Rafael is 230 miles north of Progreso Mexico and 475 miles east of Mouth of the Rio Grande, with maximum sustained wind of 100 mph. It’s moving at 9 mph to the west.

“… Rafael is likely to meander over the central Gulf of Mexico through early next week.” according to forecasters. “Steady weakening is expected during the next few days.”

YESTERDAY (Friday):

Yesterday, the Category 2 hurricane Rafael was upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 100 mph.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

SURF: Swells generated by Rafael are expected to spread across most of the Gulf of Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center