TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Rafael is turning west over the southern Gulf of Mexico as the storm continues to hit Cuba on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 4 a.m. Thursday morning, the Category 2 hurricane was located at 24.2 N, 84.6 W with maximum sustained winds of 107 miles per hour, moving northwest at 12 miles per hour.

The storm made landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane in western Cuba late Wednesday afternoon, bringing flooding, life-threatening storm surges and heavy winds to the island.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Rafael is expected to move westward across the Gulf of Mexico, with a high-pressure ridge keeping the storm away from Florida.

Rafael weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it moved further inland over the island before reaching the Gulf.

Why is Rafael likely to continue moving west?

FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says a large ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic Ocean and Florida is sending Rafael west instead of following a northerly route.

“Fortunately there is, because if it wasn’t, this storm would be moving toward the northern Gulf Coast,” Osterberg said.

Osterberg says the storm could fluctuate in intensity over the next few days and will likely remain a hurricane until this weekend, with “minimal to no” impacts in the Tampa Bay area.

Hurricane Rafael will draw moisture away from Florida as it moves westward over the Gulf of Mexico, allowing a return to moderate humidity.

Thursday will be windy with summer-like humidity in the Bay Area, according to Osterberg, before the storm drains the moisture, allowing for a return to moderate humidity by the weekend.

As Hurricane Rafael moves away from Florida in the coming days, winds will also die down in the Tampa Bay area.

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