Hurricane Rafael continues to weaken in the Gulf of Mexico and while the cyclone will not directly strike the U.S., it will bring life-threatening conditions to the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to dissipate in the Gulf of Mexico before it reaches land but could generate life-threatening rip currents along the Gulf Coast through the weekend, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday.

Hurricane Rafael made landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday and has now moved on to the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.