U.S. NHC says 40 pct chance of cyclone near Cape Verde Islands

Hurricane Fred is seen near the Cape Verde Islands in this NOAA Goes East satellite image taken 13:35 ET (17:45 GMT) August 31, 2015. REUTERS/NOAA/Handout

(Reuters) - A tropical wave located just offshore of the west coast of Africa has a 40 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Friday. "This system shows signs of organisation and has the potential for some development as it moves westward at 15 to 20 mph across the tropical Atlantic during the next few days," the NHC said.