MEXICO CITY — The storm Rafael has diminished to a tropical storm as of Saturday and is anticipated to dissipate over the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days after previously striking Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane.

At its current position, Rafael was situated approximately 290 miles (470 km) north-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds recorded at 50 mph (85 kph) and a west-northwest movement at 6 mph (9 kph), as reported by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Meteorologists expect the storm to gradually shift southward toward southern Mexico in the following days while continuing to weaken. They cautioned that swells generated by Rafael could lead to “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” in the affected coastal areas.

Earlier this week, the hurricane ravaged Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, resulting in power outages and triggering mudslides. On Wednesday evening, it struck Cuba, exacerbating the troubles faced by the nation.

In Cuba, Rafael’s powerful winds disrupted the electrical grid, led to the evacuation of 283,000 residents, and caused the collapse of 461 homes. Lake streets were littered with uprooted trees, downed power lines, and debris from the storm, leaving many residents without electricity over the weekend. Nonetheless, the Cuban government stated efforts were underway to restore power to the affected households.

On Friday, Cuban state media reported that Russia pledged to supply 80,000 tons of diesel to assist Cuba, alongside a shipment of equipment valued at $62 million, as the country worked to recover from the effects of the storm.

Rafael’s arrival comes after a tumultuous period for the Caribbean nation, which recently dealt with extended island-wide blackouts and another devastating hurricane that resulted in at least six fatalities.