Sam Expected to Be a Hurricane by Friday Morning & a Major Hurricane by Saturday

Just as reported in the 10 am advisory post, Tropical Storm Sam has started to rapidly intensify as the maximum sustained winds have increased from 50 to 60 mph and the pressure has dropped from 1003 to 1000 mb. Latest projections have Sam becoming a hurricane within the next 12-18 hours, and becoming a major hurricane within the next 48 hours. Models still have Sam recurving to the north and staying away from the US Mainland, but it could come just close enough that large swells and dangerous rip currents may occur along the East Coast. Here is the latest from the National Hurricane Center:

SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST…2100 UTC…INFORMATION
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LOCATION…11.1N 39.7W
ABOUT 1635 MI…2635 KM ESE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 280 DEGREES AT 16 MPH…26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1000 MB…29.53 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Sam was located near latitude 11.1 North, longitude 39.7 West. Sam is moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h) and a general west to west-northwest motion is expected to continue over the next several days, with a gradual slowdown in forward motion.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is forecast during the next several days. Sam is forecast to become a hurricane tomorrow morning and could become a major hurricane by Saturday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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None.

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Category: ALL POSTS, Tropical