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Hurricane Sam strengthened to a Category 4 storm Tuesday morning over the Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds increasing to near 130 mph, including higher gusts.
The hurricane was located approximately 610 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and moving toward the northwest near 9 mph.
HURRICANE SAM NEARS MAJOR STATUS
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds reach outward up to 125 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The agency said that while some fluctuations in intensity are expected over the next couple of days, Sam is forecast to remain a major hurricane through late this week.
The hurricane is anticipated to increase in forward speed on Thursday, with a turn to the north by Friday.
Sam will reportedly pass to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on Wednesday and Thursday.
COLD FRONTS PUSHING ACROSS US, BUT PLAINS FACING ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
While there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect, large swells generated by Sam are impacting the Leeward Islands and will spread to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas and Bermuda by Thursday or Friday.
In addition, significant swells will likely reach the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada by the weekend, with swells predicted to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Sam churns as the hurricane center continues to watch three other areas for potential tropical cyclone formation.
AccuWeather meteorologists say that "it's only a matter of time before the season shifts to rank in third place for all-time number of named storms generated."
The 2021 season is now trailing behind 2020 for the number of named storms to date.
Shortly after Sam – the 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the seventh hurricane – formed, Teresa became the 19th named storm of the season, dissipating on Saturday.
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Victor and Wanda are the last pre-selected names of the 2021 season. After that list has been exhausted, a supplemental list prepared by the World Meteorological Organization will be used.
