The western tip of the Florida Panhandle could see impact from Tropical Depression 18, which is expected to become Hurricane Rafael by Tuesday.

Consensus of the computer forecast models show that the robust Tropical Disturbance south of the Dominican Republic will develop and eventually organize into a tropical depression or tropical storm.

The 17th named storm of the season developed in the Caribbean Monday night, heading toward the Gulf of Mexico.

At least Florida had a whole three weeks to recover from the last storm this time. Tropical Depression Eighteen formed in the Caribbean Monday morning and was nearing tropical storm strength by the afternoon.

Rafael was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday night, and is expected to strengthen further, possibly becoming a Category 2 or 3 storm, according to FOX 35 meteorologist Noah Bergren.

With just under three weeks from the end of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center is tracking yet another new tropical disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea, according to its latest update.

We’re less than three weeks away from the official end of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, but a new tropical threat has emerged in the Caribbean Sea. Forecasters say a tropical depression or tropical storm could develop by the end of the week or over the weekend.