Powerful Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba as a major hurricane on Wednesday and has now entered the Gulf of Mexico, raising questions about its next destination.

There is high confidence that Rafael will not be a significant threat to the U.S. Gulf Coast, but that's not 100% certain in Mexico.

Hurricane Rafael has strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as it impacts Cuba before moving into the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Weather Service office in Mobile/Pensacola warns of life threatening rip currents through early next week along coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches due to Hurricane Rafael. High surf with breakers up to 5 to 7 feet will persist along area beaches Friday while surf remains elevated through Sunday afternoon.

Rafael is now a tropical storm. Follow along here for updates about the storm on Saturday, Nov. 9. Hurricane Rafael, the storm that pummeled Cuba this week with 115-mph winds and intense rainfall, now isn't forecast to make landfall in the U.

Hurricane Rafael has strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico after slamming into Cuba as a major hurricane and continues to crawl westward slowly. Here's what you need to know.