Hurricane Rafael Weakens After Devastating Cuba, Heads for Gulf

Hurricane Rafael has intensified into a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph as it moves westward across the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center reports that Rafael is not expected to interact with land in the coming days, but interests in the southern and southwestern Gulf should monitor its progress. The storm is forecast to weaken over the weekend and lose tropical characteristics by next week. Rafael previously caused significant damage in Cuba, including a collapse of the national electrical system.