A tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean is gaining strength and could potentially develop into a significant weather system.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that this disturbance now has an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next seven days.

The system, currently located midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles, has shown increased shower and thunderstorm activity in recent days. While development is expected to be gradual over the next 48 hours, with only a 30 percent chance of formation, conditions are forecast to become more favorable as the wave approaches the Caribbean.

Local meteorologist Dale Destin suggests that a tropical cyclone alert may be necessary within the next 24 hours.

According to the NHC, the system is moving westward to west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic

It is likely to form into a tropical depression by early to mid-next week as it nears the Lesser Antilles.

The disturbance is then expected to continue its west-northwestward trajectory, potentially affecting portions of the Greater Antilles by the middle to latter part of next week.