Chance of cyclone near Windward Islands still at 60 percent: NHC

19/09/2011 - 17:51

(Reuters) - A low pressure system located about 1,450 miles east of The Windward Islands still has a high 60 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the next couple of days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a report.

"Environmental conditions still appear favorable for a tropical depression to form during the next couple of days," the NHC said.

The NHC added the system moves westward at 5-10 miles per hour (8-16 km/h).

Tropical cyclones become named tropical storms when their winds exceed 39 miles per hour (63 km/h) and become hurricanes when their winds reach more than 74 mph (119 km/h).

(Reporting by Naveen Arul in Bangalore)