A tropical depression has formed in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to intensify into a tropical storm and potentially a hurricane over the next few days. The system is poised to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to Central America and could potentially impact parts of the U.

Millions of people from the Caribbean to the U.S. Gulf Coast are keeping their eyes on Tropical Depression Eighteen as the system becomes better organized and is forecast to become Hurricane Rafael in the coming days.

The National Hurricane Center said Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 is expected to become a tropical depression or storm on Monday.