Also Sunday, forecasters are keeping an eye on a new tropical wave that just emerged off the African coast. The wave is forecast to move westward over the far eastern tropical Atlantic for the next several days. Upper-level winds are expected to gradually become more conducive for some slow development of this disturbance by the middle of the week.</s>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- As a tropical disturbance emerges off the African coast, it's looking more so likely forecasters will check the "F" name on this season's list.

The National Hurricane Center pegs the system at an 80-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm during the next two days and an even higher, more likely 90-percent chance through five days. If it becomes a tropical storm -- categorized with winds in excess of 39 mph -- it will be named Florence.

Weather computer models this early on in the system's development do not have the storm traveling to the U.S., however, this is the middle of hurricane season and all forecasts need to be monitored.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, the hurricane center began issuing advisories for the system and initially call it Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. The "potential" in the name means forecasters are confident the storm will intensify.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for many of the Cabo Verde Islands.

What the heck is a "potential tropical cyclone"? The National Hurricane Center issues these forecasts before a tropical depression or storm forms.

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In a case of weird timing, it was one year ago Thursday that the National Hurricane Center started naming a system coming off the African coast: Tropical Storm Irma. It rapidly strengthened to become a hurricane within 24 hours and, on Sept. 10, made landfall in Florida.

It's OK to not to worry right now, especially since all storms are not the same and models do indicate this African system being one mostly for the fishes over open water.

►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.

Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.</s>The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories for what's it's calling Potential Tropical Cyclone Six.

The system could become a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Florence later Thursday.

It's impacting the Cabo Verde islands but expected to stay over the open Atlantic and is not a threat to South Florida.

Current models have the storm, which is off Africa, turning north into the Central Atlantic, and not due west toward the Caribbean or the U.S.</s>ORLANDO, Fla. — Potential Tropical Cyclone Six continues to slowly organize in the eastern Atlantic, and is on track to become a tropical storm later Friday.
• PTC 6 is not expected to impact the US
• SEE BELOW: Keeping an eye on tropical wave in the Caribbean ▼

A potential tropical cyclone is a system that is not yet a fully formed tropical cyclone, but will likely become one in the next 24 to 48 hours. A potential tropical cyclone also allows watches and warnings to be issued.

The system is expected to gradually strengthen into a tropical storm later Friday. When it becomes a named storm, its name will be "Florence".

Tropical storm conditions are expected along the southern Cabo Verde islands later Friday, with 4 to 8 inches of rainfall also likely.

The system is then expected to move away from the islands and intensify into a hurricane early next week.

At this time, the potential tropical cyclone is not expected to impact the United States.

Keeping an eye on tropical wave in the Caribbean

Elsewhere, we are watching a tropical wave sitting near the Dominican Republic that is producing heavy rainfall across parts of the Caribbean.

This is expected to move northwest over Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico early next week.

Once it is in the Gulf, there is a low chance of tropical development. While formation of a tropical system is very low, enhanced rainfall across the state is likely for early next week.</s>ORLANDO, Fla. -- Potential Tropical Cyclone Six has formed in the extreme eastern Atlantic, as tropical storm warnings have been issued for the southern Cabo Verde Islands.
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is not expected to impact US
• SEE BELOW: Keeping an eye on tropical wave in the Caribbean ▼

The system is located about 425 miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands.

The potential tropical cyclone has winds of 30 mph. It is moving to the west at 12 mph.

A potential tropical cyclone is a system that's not yet a fully formed tropical cyclone but will likely become one in the next 24 to 48 hours. A potential tropical cyclone also allows watches and warnings to be issued.

Tropical storm warnings have been posted for southern Cabo Verde, including:

Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is expected to develop into a tropical storm early Friday. When it becomes a named storm, its name will be called Florence.

Tropical storm conditions are expected along the southern Cabo Verde islands on Friday, with 4 to 8 inches of rainfall also likely.

The system is then expected to move away from the islands and intensify into a hurricane.

At this time, the potential tropical cyclone is not expected to impact the United States.



 Elsewhere, we are watching a tropical wave sitting between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic that is producing heavy rainfall across parts of the Caribbean.

This wave will lift northward into the Bahamas and will likely move across South Florida over the Labor Day weekend.

Although chances of formation into a tropical system are very low, enhanced rainfall across the state is likely. The system is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico early next week, where it could strengthen further.</s>The National Hurricane Center is monitoring what it calls Potential Tropical Cyclone Six in the far Atlantic.

Forecasters are giving the system an 80 percent chance of development in the next 48 hours and a 90 percent likelihood in the next five days, according to an advisory issued at 2 p.m. Thursday.

“Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm during the next day or so,’’ the hurricane center said.

If it becomes a named storm, it would be named Florence.

The system is located about 425 miles east-southeast of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 0 mph. It is moving west at 12 mph.

The government of the Cabo Verde Islands has issued a tropical storm warning for the southern islands of Santiago, Fogo and Brava.

Forecasters are also keeping an eye on a tropical wave in the north-central Caribbean Sea that is producing a large batch of thunderstorms. The system is expected to continue moving west and northwestward and into the Gulf of Mexico during the next several days. However, forecasters say that strong upper-level winds will likely prevent any significant development during the next several days.

Regardless, the system is expected to bring rainfall across Florida early next week.</s>A potential tropical cyclone has been identified in the eastern Atlantic Ocean as hurricane season reaches its peak time of year.

The potential cyclone, which would be named Florence if it develops, could become a tropical depression or tropical storm any time today or Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While the storm system still lacks a well-defined center, environmental conditions are favorable for more development, meteorologists said. The system has an 80 percent chance of forming through the next two days.

WHAT TO EXPECT: NOAA releases predictions for 2018 hurricane season

The system will head west or west-northwest over the next few days before turning northwest, according to the hurricane center.</s>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The area of low pressure that moved off the coast of Africa has continued to become better organized, and is producing a large area of disturbed weather with gusty winds, but currently lacks a well-defined center.

The National Hurricane Center designated the low Potential Tropical Cyclone Six at 11am on Thursday. This system will most likely not make its way over to the US, and will fade over the open Atlantic.

Environmental conditions are favorable for additional development, and a tropical depression or a tropical storm could form an any time today or Friday.

Given the high chances that this system could bring tropical storm conditions to a portion of the southern Cabo Verde Islands, advisories have been initiated on Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. Most of the intensity guidance calls for strengthening and so does the NHC forecast.

The system is embedded within the easterly trades and this flow pattern will steer the disturbance toward the west or west- northwest during the next few days. By the end of the forecast period, a turn toward the northwest should begin as the system reaches a weakness in the subtropical high. This is consistent with the output of the global models.</s>JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone Six as of 11:00 a.m. Thursday. PTC Six is more than 3,000 miles away from the First Coast. However, this system is expected to become better organized in the near future and could soon become Tropical Storm Florence.

By Friday, heavy rains and tropical storm force winds are expected over the southern Cabo Verde Islands. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for places like Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.

Winds across the Atlantic Ocean will street Potential Tropical Cyclone Six toward the west-northwest during the next few days. A turn northwest, deeper into the open Atlantic and farther away from the Jacksonville area, should begin early next week as the system reaches the subtropical high.

Elsewhere in the tropics, the National Hurricane Center is tracking an area of thunderstorms in the north-central Caribbean Sea. There is a low chance of tropical development over the next five days as is spreads west-northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico. This system will likely enhance our rain chances as we head towards the Labor Day holiday and early next week.</s>Potential Tropical Cyclone Six — located about 215 miles east-southeast of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean — is expected to become a tropical storm Friday and a hurricane by the middle of next week, according to a National Hurricane Center advisory at 5 a.m. Friday.

The weather system, which has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, is moving west-northwest at 12 mph. With the 90 percent likelihood that it will develop further, the system would become Tropical Storm Florence.

The hurricane center’s forecast cone shows Potential Tropical Cyclone Six continuing in that same direction before beginning a turn to the north Tuesday. The cone shows the system becoming a hurricane early Wednesday.

Closer to Florida, the hurricane center is monitoring a tropical wave that is producing bad weather from Hispaniola east to the Leeward Islands.

“Strong upper-level winds are expected to prevent any significant development of this system during the next several days,’’ the hurricane center said.

This disturbance is expected to dump more rain for Florida into early next week.
The National Hurricane Center issues advisories for what forecasters call a Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. If it strengthens to a tropical storm, it would be known as Florence.