TAMPA, Florida (WFLA) — A tropical wave making its way across the Atlantic will likely strengthen into a tropical depression by the early to middle part of next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The wave was first spotted Thursday and initially given a low chance of development at just 20 per cent, however, a day later, NHC increased those odds to 30 per cent. By Saturday, the storm was given a 60 per cent chance of formation in the next 48 hours and an 80 per cent chance of formation in the next seven days.

“This activity is starting to show some signs of organisation,” the NHC said, adding that “environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development.”

Forecasters tracking the wave say it is currently located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands where it is producing a broad area of disorganised storms.

The wave is expected to drift westward over the Atlantic Ocean at 15 to 20 mph.

“The good news is that, at least for now, our longer-range forecast models predict that it will re-curve out to sea before approaching the Caribbean or the United States,” Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly said.