Meteorologists report that a weather system currently churning in the Atlantic has a high chance of developing into Tropical Storm Patty within the next seven days. Forecasters are monitoring the disturbance, which is gathering strength as it moves northward and could impact parts of the Caribbean and possibly the northeastern United States.

A new storm — soon to be named “Rafael” — is organizing in the Caribbean and comes after a storm named Patty formed over the weekend. The latest system is expected to become a hurricane by early Wednesday and may even remain a hurricane into the Gulf of Mexico.

Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba are expected to be hit in the coming days. In the U.S., everyone from Texas to Florida should monitor the storm's path as it approaches closer to the weekend.

Tropical Storm Rafael has officially formed in the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said on Monday afternoon. Currently located 175 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, the system has maximum sustained wind speeds of 45 mph and a minimum central pressure of 997 mb,