NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Rafael is beginning to feel the impact of shear and dry air in the central and western Gulf and is losing structure. The satellite looks a lot less impressive than it did early Friday. This weakening trend will continue through the weekend. The current forecast from the National Hurricane Center is basically unchanged from the past day or two. The bulks of the forecast models indicate Rafael moving west around a ridge of high pressure across the northern Gulf, and eventually even moving southwest by early next week. For us locally over the next couple of days the main focus will be on the trough to the west and how much moisture it's able to pull up from the south. Right now it looks like most of the rain stays west of our area on Saturday and then we see better rain chances as we go through the day on Sunday. It will stay very muggy through the weekend and then be slightly drier by the early part of next week. Tiger Stadium Saturday night will be close to a bigger batch of rain just to the the west. At the moment it looks like hit or miss showers there with again more persistent rain to the west. Boating plans would still be discouraged offshore either way due to wind and higher swells. Minor coastal flooding will also continue through Sunday before diminishing as the storm moves south. Continue to stay with WGNO on air and online for the latest. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts From Marine Corps combat to commanding a kitchen, a popular chef recounts the journey Rafael stays south but we could still see rain this weekend What is the 'super' 401(k) catch-up contribution for older workers? Laredo massage parlor shut down for alleged human, sex trafficking Applebee's, IHOP to open first combo restaurant in US