Hurricane Rafael Weakens After Cuba Landfall

Hurricane Rafael, initially a Category 3 storm, made landfall in Cuba causing widespread flooding and a national power outage before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is projected to continue on a westward path through the Gulf, encountering wind shear and cooler waters that will likely weaken it to a tropical storm by Monday. Despite its weakening, Rafael poses a risk of high surf and rip currents along the U.S. Gulf Coast, though it is expected to stay away from the northern Gulf states. Cuba, still recovering from Hurricane Oscar, faces additional rainfall and potential mudslides. Forecasts indicate that Rafael may eventually head towards the Texas-Mexico border, with significant uncertainty remaining about its final trajectory. Tropical storm warnings for the Dry Tortugas have been lifted, but residents in the Gulf are advised to monitor the storm's progress.