While Tropical Storm Rafael winds remained consistent Monday night, the storm is forecast to strengthen Tuesday and become a hurricane Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the western Caribbean and southern Florida by midweek.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and it could become the 11th hurricane. The season lasts until Nov. 30.

A tropical depression formed in the Caribbean on Monday, one that could eventually intensify into a hurricane and threaten the Gulf Coast by this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.