Follow along here for the latest about Sara on Friday, Nov. 15. A weather system growing more powerful over the central Caribbean was designated Tropical Storm Sara on Thursday, becoming the 18th named storm of what has been a brutal hurricane season for Florida and the Southeast.

Meteorologists are closely monitoring a developing tropical disturbance near Jamaica that could soon become Tropical Storm Sara, marking the Atlantic hurricane season's 18th named

Tropical Storm Rafael formed Monday afternoon in the Caribbean Sea, where it is expected to cross Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Islands, and Cuba, before entering the Gulf of Mexico this week. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before weakening back down to a tropical storm in the Gulf.