The Tribune

THE US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Tropical Storm Fiona is getting a little stronger as it moves across the Atlantic.

The storm's maximum sustained winds increased to near 45mph late on Thursday but it is expected to be followed by slow weakening to a tropical depression at the weekend.

Fiona, the sixth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic season, was centred about 1,295 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands at 11am on Friday and is moving west-northwest near 10mph, although its speed is forecast to increase. It remains over open waters and currently poses no threat to land.

The NHC is also monitoring two tropical 'waves' in the eastern Atlantic.

A system about 500 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands is reported to be producing a disorganised area of cloudiness and shower activity. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form early next week while the system moves westward at about 15mph across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The probability of formation into a depression is medium at 50 per cent over the next five days.

Meanwhile a tropical wave is forecast by the NHC to move off the coast of Africa on Saturday.

Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive to slow development early next week while the system moves generally westward and passes near the Cape Verde Islands over the weekend.

The chance of it forming into a system in the next five days is low at 30 per cent.