It's early Friday morning and Rafael has once again strengthened into a strong Category 3 hurricane. The storm's top sustained winds are up to 120 mph with stronger gusts near the eyewall.

National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
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The Hurricane passed over the western edge of Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. It then turned westward as it emerged over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Rafael lost a little punch over the last 24 hours, but this morning, it has intensified.

Rafael Must Have Watched Saquon Barkley

The sports world has been abuzz over what Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley pulled off this past weekend. Here's a look in case you missed it.

Barkley was spinning, going in multiple directions over a short period of time, and then there's that reverse hurdle! Hurricane Rafael is about to do his best impression of Barkley...only without the reverse hurdle.

Check Out Rafael's Movements Saturday through Tuesday

National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
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According to the National Hurricane Center, Rafael will continue on a westward track today and Saturday. Then, straight out of a football metaphor, Mother Nature will throw a defensive boundary at the hurricane.

Just Like Barkley, Rafael Will Start Some Wild Evasive Maneuvers

  • On Saturday, Rafael will be tracking west
  • Then, on Sunday, he turns to the north (Watch out Texas and Louisiana)
  • But wait, Monday, the hurricane heads east (Ummm...another storm for Florida?)
  • Tuesday, another day...another direction, Rafael heads south (That is one athletic Hurricane!)

Four Consecutive Days...Four Different Directions

I've tracked hurricanes for decades, and I've seen them do U-turns and be directionally challenged, but I don't think I have ever seen this forecasted track: west-north-east-south over four consecutive days.

Will Rafael Impact the US Coastline?

Thankfully, the defensive front being thrown at Rafael will also cause him to rapidly lose power. The Hurricane is expected to be downgraded to a Tropical Storm by Sunday, and then die out as a depression over the central Gulf of Mexico by mid-week.

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Gallery Credit: Dubba G

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