Hurricane Rafael is now a tropical storm with winds at 50 mph.Louisiana is no longer in the forecast cone; however, the state could see rain depending on how close the storm gets. Sign up for our NewslettersRafael is now in the Gulf of Mexico where it will rapidly lose strength in unfavorable conditions.

The United States, particularly Florida, should catch a break as the latest forecast from AccuWeather shows that Rafael won't make landfall here.

Steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours, and Rafael is forecast to become a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.