Rafael weakened on Saturday and is expected to remain a tropical storm in the central Gulf of Mexico from Sunday into Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced. On Saturday morning, the agency said the storm was about 290 miles of Progreso, Mexico. Rafael is moving northwest at six mph, the NHC said.

Rafael has weakened to a tropical storm and was expected to dissolve over the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days after barreling across Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane.

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Tropical Storm Rafael is just barely hanging on as a Tropical Storm. By Monday it should weaken to the remnant Low pressure formerly known as Rafael. Rip currents and heavy rain will continue in the northern and western Gulf of Mexico, far away from the Suncoast.