ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane Rafael was downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued westward in the Gulf of Mexico posing no threat to land for now while the National Hurricane Center kept track of another system with low odds to develop into the next tropical depression or storm.

As of the NHC 7 p.m. tropical outlook, a trough of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles east of the central Bahamas is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

“Some gradual development of this system is possible during the next day or so before it moves into unfavorable environmental conditions on Sunday,” forecasters said.

The NHC gave it a 10% chance of development in the next two to seven days.

Meanwhile, Rafael was downgraded to a tropical storm as the system continues moving west-northwest in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the NHC 4 p.m. tropical outlook, Tropical Storm Rafael was 315 miles north-northwest of Progresso, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 5 mph. Its maximum sustained winds are 50 mph and tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.

“The storm is expected to slow down and meander over the central Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night, then turn toward the south and south-southwest on Monday and Tuesday,” forecasters said.

Rafael became the 17th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. It was the 11th hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the above-average season.

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