Tropical Storm Sam forms in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is expected to become a hurricane by Friday and could be a strong hurricane by this weekend.
Sam became the eighteenth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the second earliest “S” storm in Atlantic Basin history, behind only 2020’s Sally. At 11 a.m. AST, the center of the Tropical Storm Sam was located over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean about 1860 miles (2995 km) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Sam is moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue over the next several days, but with a gradual slowdown in forward motion.
It’s not yet clear if Sam will ever threaten the Leeward Islands, but it will take its time. Sam’s forward speed will slow down this weekend, as high pressure to its north acting as its initial steering wheel weakens. According to the latest computer forecast models, Sam may not reach the longitude of the Lesser Antilles until the middle of next week. Whether it passes over parts of the islands or bypasses them to the north is unclear, at this time. What is of higher confidence is that Sam will have an environment conducive for intensification into at least early next week, including low wind shear and increasingly warm water.In this environment, Sam will likely become a hurricane by Friday or Saturday east of the Lesser Antilles, and could become a stronger hurricane by early next week.
Credits: NOAA
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