SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A new tropical storm is expected to form in the Caribbean on Monday and bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, before becoming a hurricane and possibly hitting Cuba, forecasters said.

The storm would be named Raphael. later in the week Heavy rains are also expected to hit Florida and parts of the southeastern United States, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba, including Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and Youth Island. A tropical storm alert has been issued for Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey and Las Tunas in Cuba.

“Confidence is growing that the system will steadily strengthen until it reaches Cuba or the southeastern Gulf of Mexico,” the center said.

As of Monday afternoon, the tropical depression was located about 200 miles (325 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) as it moved north at 9 mph (15 km/h), the center said.

The predicted storm was expected to move near Jamaica late Monday, be near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, and approach Cuba on Wednesday. It could reach near hurricane strength when it passes near the Cayman Islands.

The latest forecast indicates the disturbance could pass western Cuba as a hurricane on Wednesday. People in Cuba and the Florida Keys were among those called to watch as the confusion developed.

Most forecasts indicate the potential storm will peak as a Category 1 hurricane, “but conditions over the next few days will facilitate strengthening, so we will need to monitor how quickly it organizes, and a stronger hurricane cannot be ruled out,” Michael wrote. Lowry, a hurricane expert and storm surge expert, said in an analysis Monday.

On Monday morning, the Cayman Islands government offered sandbags to people and announced that schools would close on Tuesday.

“Residents are requested to take urgent measures to protect themselves and their property,” the government said in a statement. he said.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Observer newspaper reported a major landslide in a rural area north of the capital of Kingston on Sunday, which officials attributed to continuing rains ahead of the possible storm. No injuries were reported but several communities remained isolated.

Heavy rainfall is expected to affect the Western Caribbean with a total of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) and locally up to 9 inches (23 cm) in parts of Jamaica and Cuba. Flooding and landslides are possible.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Patty has dissipated.