Tropical Storm Rafael, formed Monday and is expected to move north into the Gulf of Mexico where it will become a hurricane and possibly track toward the Southeastern United States. Heavy rainfall will spread north into Florida and adjacent areas of the Southeast United States during mid- to late week, forecasters said.

As reported by Newsweek, The National Hurricane Center ( NHC) has forecast a possible tropical storm that could form today and head toward Florida, bringing heavy rain. The storm is known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 18, but will be named Storm Rafael if it intensifies into a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Rafael is chugging toward the Cayman Islands and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane en route to Cuba

Tropical Storm Rafael is chugging past the western tip of Jamaica and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads toward Cuba

The storm isn’t expected to directly impact the United States, but its moisture will reach Florida and the Southeast. The tropics are heating up once again. Late Monday afternoon, Tropical Storm Rafael formed over the Caribbean Sea.