Tropical storm Fred forms off west coast of Africa

As of Sunday, August 30, 2015

TROPICAL Storm Fred, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the Atlantic Ocean near the west coast of Africa on Sunday morning, the US National Hurricane Centre has reported.

Fred is forecast to move west-north-west on a path that will take it through the Cape Verde Islands on Monday and Tuesday. A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch have been issued for those islands.

Fred, which was 260 miles east-south-east of the Cape Verde Islands at 11am on Sunday, is reported to have maximum sustained winds of near 50mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected and Fred is forecast to become a hurricane before reaching the Cape Verde Islands. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the centre.

After passing through the Cape Verde Islands, Fred is expected to turn westward over the open Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters say southwesterly winds aloft should begin to weaken Fred late in the week.