Confidence is increasing that Rafael’s only impacts in the Port Aransas area likely will be big waves and coastal flooding.
That’s according to a bulletin issued this morning (Thursday, Nov. 7) by the National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi.
Rafael, which currently is a hurricane, is in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to weaken into a tropical storm as it tracks westward across the south-central Gulf through the weekend, the weather service reported.
Forecasters increasingly are thinking the storm will turn southwest early next week. That would put it on a track that would take it further from Port Aransas, but there remains a 5 to 10 percent chance that area waters could receive tropical storm-force winds, according to the weather service.
Tropical storm-force winds are 39 to 73 mph.
Even if high winds and rain don’t reach Port Aransas, beachgoers should show caution. Strong rip currents could pose deadly hazards for swimmers.