A disturbance in the Caribbean strengthened into Tropical Storm Rafael on Monday afternoon. The storm is forecast to become a hurricane Tuesday.Rafael, previously known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 18, formed Sunday. At 4 p.m. ET Monday, it was about 175 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, and moving north at around 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).Rafael is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and it will be the 11th hurricane if it strengthens further, as expected. The season lasts until Nov. 30, though peak activity is usually around Sept. 10.The storm system is expected to approach the U.S. later in the week, the hurricane center said, and a tropical storm watch was issued Monday afternoon for the lower and middle Florida Keys and for the Dry Tortugas. Parts of Florida and nearby areas of the Southeast could get heavy rain by mid- to late week, though NHC forecasters said it is still too early to make predictions about impacts for the Gulf Coast.A hurricane warning has been issued for the Cayman Islands, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for Jamaica.The government of Cuba issued a hurricane watch for a handful of provinces and a tropical storm watch for other areas.Forecasters expect the weather system to move near Jamaica late Monday, then to be near or over the Cayman Is …
