Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to weaken as the NHC tracks another system in the Caribbean that is expected to move into "unfavorable conditions."

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.

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.

Powerful Hurricane Rafael continues to remain a powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and while the current forecast does not have the storm hitting the U.S., it will bring life-threatening conditions to the Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for parts of southwestern Louisiana on Sunday, September 10, as Tropical Storm Rafael brought “excessive rainfall” to the region. Drone footage captured by Christine Wyninger shows floodwaters in Sulphur on Sunday morning.

Tropical Storm Rafael may be swirling in open waters hundreds of miles away from the U.S. Gulf Coast, but moisture from the late-season storm triggered a dangerous flash flood threat across parts of the South over the weekend,