Hurricane Rafael gained momentum in the Gulf of Mexico Friday morning and returned to its powerful Category 3 status, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Life-threatening swells are forecast to spread across most of the Gulf of Mexico during the next few days ... and Golden Triangle of Southeast Texas and Southwest and Southeast Louisiana through Sunday morning. Early Friday it was a "major hurricane ...

Louisianans should watch Hurricane Rafael's progress in the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasters with the National Weather Service in New Orleans say the storm doesn't pose a threat to the Bayou State on its current path.