A tropical depression is likely to form in the Caribbean and could become a tropical storm or hurricane once it reaches the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico next week, forecasters say. Once it has a center, meteorologists will be better able to determine the storm’s possible paths. AccuWeather

The National Hurricane Center has officially named the system over the Caribbean Rafael. The tropical storm is moving north at 9 mph and will continue to move toward the north-northwest. It travels over every warm water, and the wind shear is expected to be low through Wednesday as it approaches western Cuba.

Tropical Storm Rafael will pass near Jamaica Monday night ... forecasts current as of Nov. 4 indicate the system should stay out of North Carolina.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba, as tropical storm conditions are expected in Florida later in the week.