New Tropical Storm Has Worrisome Path

The sixth tropical storm of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season is more than a week from coming anywhere close to mainland U.S., but it's long-term path is something to watch.

As of 11 p.m. Saturday, the storm had maximum sustained winds of nearly 60 MPH and it could grow to near hurricane strength on Sunday, according to WCBD-TV. Though the storm is gaining steam, it could face a struggle over the next few days.

Tropical Storm Florence strengthened a bit Saturday over the open Atlantic Ocean, its center about 515 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands as it headed toward the Leeward Islands, CNN reports.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, the storm was heading west-northwest at a 15 mph rate and had sustained winds of 50 mph, a shade weaker than Ernesto. It could gain more strength over the next few days, CNN reports.

Florence will encounter moist, warm weather over the next week, the National Hurricane Center reports. Those are good conditions for strengthening, but a strong wind sheer should cause the storm to weaken.

The storm is more than a week away from making landfall in the mainland U.S., even if it continues to sustain itself in rough conditions. Forecasts so far out are typically unreliable. Check back to Patch for the latest updates on Florence.