The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Sara formed in the Caribbean on Thursday, and long-term forecast models show it could enter the Gulf of Mexico and turn toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. As of the NHC’s 10 a.

The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane was likely to flood parts of Central America and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula over the coming days.

A newly formed depression in the Caribbean could enter the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Sara next week, potentially reducing the chances it could pose a threat to Florida later in the week.

Though the impacts are unknown at this time, residents near the Gulf of Mexico are encouraged to monitor Tropical Depression 19.

Rafael has weakened to a tropical storm and was expected to dissolve over the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days after barreling across Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane.

Later this week and over the weekend, weakened steering currents are likely to cause the system to meander offshore or along the coast of Central America. Toward the end of the forecast period, a front moving into the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to shift the storm to a northwestward track.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts Tropical Storm Sara could get into the Gulf of Mexico after swamping Central America and crossing over Mexico.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season refuses to quit. Invest 99 in the Caribbean has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression and tropical storm by the weekend. Most reliable modeling suggests a move to the Gulf of Mexico next week with some impacts possible across the Florida Peninsula.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 19 formed Wednesday over the western Caribbean Sea and is expected to become a tropical storm in the next few days, forecasters said.