Tropical Depression #5 Forms In Far East Atlantic

MIAMI (CBS4) - Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center Service are tracking the newly-formed Tropical Depression #5 in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean.

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, the system was 80 miles southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. The storm was carrying winds of 35 miles per hour and moving to the west northwest at 14 miles per hour.

The Cape Verde Islands government has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the southern Cape Verde Islands of Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area in the next 12 to 24 hours.

Over the next several days, the storm is expected to continue in a west-northwest pattern and is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm by Thursday.

If the system reaches tropical storm status, its name will be Erin.