Rafael became the fifth major hurricane of the 2024 season on Wednesday just before making landfall in western Cuba. Sign up for our NewslettersAccording to the National Hurricane Center, Rafael is producing rough seas over the Gulf of Mexico.

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:

The biggest impacts from Rafael's storm bands may affect offshore oil and gas production. Several companies evacuated workers from rigs as Rafael remains near oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Once Rafael takes a more southerly path, Northern Mexico may also begin experiencing higher wave heights and high surf along the beaches.