ToplineTropical Storm Rafael is expected to strengthen on Tuesday while becoming a hurricane over the western Caribbean as the storm heads northwest toward the Gulf Coast later this week, impacting the Florida Keys and other states,

The tropics are heating up once again. Late Monday afternoon, Tropical Storm Rafael formed over the Caribbean Sea. After starting the day with a ragged, disorganized appearance, Rafael’s structure organized somewhat during the afternoon, and thunderstorm activity consolidated near its center — a sign of a strengthening storm.

A Tropical Storm Warning was issued for Jamaica late Sunday evening as a Caribbean weather system is expected to strengthen Monday into Tropical Storm Rafael. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Cayman Islands late Tuesday as it moves toward Cuba.