Once a powerful Category 3 hurricane, Rafael has significantly weakened and downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico. See the latest:

Forecasters are continuing to monitor the storm as it dissipates. The NHC said swells generated by Rafael will continue impacting portions of the northern and western Gulf Coast. This is expected to continue through the weekend, the NHC said. These swells are likely to “cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the agency said.

Nov. 8 (UPI) --Rafael has weakened into a tropical storm as slowly moved in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. In the 3 a.m. CST Saturday update from the National Hurricane Center, the 18th named storm of the Atlantic season had maximum sustained winds of 65 ...