The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was gaining strength Tuesday morning after forming in the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Rafael was forecast to grow steadily, if not rapidly as it churns past Jamaica's west coast on a path for Cuba ...

Tropical Storm Rafael is passing south of western Jamaica and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane possibly by Tuesday evening.Rafael, which formed Sunday and was previously known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 18,

Rafael is forecast to strengthen Tuesday and will likely become a hurricane over the next 24 hours as it batters the western Caribbean on the first leg of an uncertain journey toward the US Gulf Coast.