Original: Because the depression was far removed from the subtropical ridge and an upper-level low pressure area was sitting to the north, steering currents were weak at first, and the depression drifted very slowly on a general west-northwest track.
Simplified: Since the depression was far removed from the subtropical ridge and an upper-level low pressure area was sitting to the north, steering currents were weak at first and the depression moved very slowly on a general west-northwest track.