The track of Hurricane Rafael in the Gulf of Mexico is a bit perplexing.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Rafael has winds of 120 mph and a minimum central pressure of 956, making it a powerful Category 3 storm and is 200 miles north-northeast of Progreso, Mexico and is moving west at 9 mph. Throughout the weekend, the system is expected to continue its westward (and possibly northwestward) path at a slower forward speed.
The NHC says Rafael is not expected to interact with any land in the next few days as it moves across the central Gulf of Mexico, but officials are telling interests in the southern and southwestern Gulf of Mexico to monitor the storm's progress closely.
Rafael's intensity could fluctuate Friday, but the storm is expected to weaken by the end of the day, according to the NHC.
Some wild spaghetti models have Rafael making a wide loop in the Gulf and possibly brushing the big bend region of Florida's Gulf Coast.
Current NHC models show the storm losing tropical characteristics by the middle part of next week as it will probably take a more southern turn toward Mexico.
There are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect.