A tropical disturbance in the central Atlantic has a 70 per cent chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next seven days, according to the latest outlook from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The system, currently located about 500 miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity but is expected to encounter more favourable conditions for development over the next several days.

The NHC says a tropical depression will likely form during the latter half of this week as the system tracks westward to west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic.