Tropical storm Igor, the ninth named storm in the Atlantic, is moving slowly northwards near the Cape Verde Islands, forecasters said Thursday.

The storm had sustained maximum winds of about 65 km/h.

As of 8 a.m. AT, Igor was about 80 kilometres south-southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and was plodding north at about four km/h.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the weak storm could begin gathering strength on Friday, and is expected to turn toward the west or west-northwest and increase its speed within two days.

A tropical storm watch is posted for the southern Cape Verde Islands, but forecasters said it will likely be cancelled later in the day.