MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- The tropical disturbance emerging from the western African coast has been gathering better form and higher strength, making it the season's sixth tropical depression.
The tropical depression is about 70 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands and was moving west late Friday afternoon at 15 mph.
Tropical Depression Six is over 3,500 miles from the Florida peninsula.
Peak wind speeds were estimated at 35 mph, with some higher gusts.
Steady strengthening is forecast through the weekend, as the depression encounters light upper-level winds and is located over seasonably warm waters.
The forecast track keeps the system on a fairly consistent west-northwest course of movement through early next week. This will keep the depression safely away from any major land mass. It is expected to be Tropical Storm Florence this weekend, and can still reach hurricane strength within the next several days.
