Hurricane Rafael remained a "powerful compact hurricane" as it slowly churned in the central Gulf of Mexico, U.S. forecasters said Friday.  Where is the storm and what is its path? According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center,

Hurricane Rafael, which made landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, is now gradually moving over the central Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.

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.

As Hurricane Rafael continues to dump heavy rain on western Cuba, forecasters are in a bit of disagreement over the path the storm is going to take.

Hurricane Rafael is spinning in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and will track westward, the possibly southward into next week while likely weakening. (​PERSPECTIVE: Seasons That Have Reached 11 Hurricanes) Future path in the Gulf: Rafael is expected to remain a hurricane through at least Friday as it tracks slowly toward the central Gulf of Mexico.