Tropical Storm Rafael moves slowly in Gulf of Mexico

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Rafael has weakened into a tropical storm as slowly moved in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.

In the 3 p.m. CST Saturday update from the National Hurricane Center, the 18th named storm of the Atlantic season had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph as it moved west-northwest at 5 mph. It was about 315 miles north-northwest of Progresso, Mexico.

Rafael was downgraded to a tropical storm in the 9 p.m. Friday update.

There are no coastal watches or warnings.

Rafael is forecast to "slow down or meander over the central Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then turn toward the south or south-southwest on Monday or Tuesday." NHC said."

Swells are forecast to cause likely life-threatening surf and rip currents through northern and western Gulf Coast through the weekend, NHC said.

Heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with local amounts to 10 inches, also will lead to potentially significant flash flooding across portions of the Southwest and Central Louisiana through Sunday morning, the NHC said.

Rafael was a "major hurricane" early Friday with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.

The storm made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday.