The area of low pressure over the west-central Caribbean Sea has now become a tropical depression and is forecast to develop into a tropical storm Monday evening. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Jamaica as the system continues to move closer to the island.

TD 18, which will become Tropical Storm Rafael when it strengthens to that status, is moving north at 9 mph. The system is expected to move near Jamaica late on Monday and then be

Millions of people from the Caribbean to the U.S. Gulf Coast are keeping their eyes on Tropical Depression Eighteen as the system becomes better organized and is forecast to become Hurricane Rafael in the coming days.