Hurricane Rafael, a Category 2 storm, is moving westward across the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to weaken over the next few days due to unfavorable conditions such as strong wind shear, dry air, and cooler waters. By Sunday, the National Hurricane Center predicts Rafael could be downgraded to a tropical storm.
On Thursday morning, a tropical storm warning for the Dry Tortugas was lifted, and no other watches or warnings remain in effect. However, forecasters have warned of "life-threatening" surf and rip current conditions across the Gulf. As of Thursday’s 4 p.m. update, Rafael had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph.
Rafael made landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread power outages in the country’s already fragile electrical grid. Earlier in October, Cuba was hit by Hurricane Oscar, which caused eight fatalities and damaged around 20,000 homes.
Meanwhile, the hurricane center reduced the likelihood of a new tropical disturbance forming north of Puerto Rico and Haiti. As of 7 p.m. Thursday, forecasters gave it a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next week.
Source: Bellingham Herald
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
