Hurricane Sam strongest storm of Atlantic season; Tropical Storm Victor becomes better organized
The already-intense Hurricane Sam strengthened more overnight Friday and is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to Bermuda on Saturday as its core passes east of the island; while Tropical Storm Victor maintained strength as it moves northwestward over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.
The season’s seventh hurricane, Sam remains a Category 4 and is now the strongest storm of the 2021 season with sustained winds having grown to an impressive 150 mph. Sam was located about 220 miles southeast of Bermuda and moving north at 17 mph and is expected to bring swells to the eastern United States, including Florida, along with Atlantic Canada.
Some fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next couple of days, but Sam is forecast to remain a major hurricane through Saturday, forecasters said. Sam has been a major hurricane for six days, making it the longest-lasting major storm observed in the Atlantic since 2017′s Hurricane Irma.
The system grew into a hurricane on Sept. 24 and rapidly intensified faster than any other storm observed that far east in the Atlantic, the NOAA said.
Scientists think that Sam has likely peaked but is likely to retain its major storm status through Saturday night. Sam is projected to keep hurricane strength through at least Monday, which would be an 11-day stretch.
Sam’s hurricane-force winds have extended to reach 60 miles from its core, and its tropical-storm-force winds extend 205 miles.
The system is expected to remain well east of the Caribbean and also to the east of Bermuda in the open Atlantic later this week. Still, a tropical storm warning was issued for Bermuda.
Tropical Storm Victor is losing organization, the NHC said Friday morning.
The storm, located 800 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, is forecast to turn northwest into the open Atlantic, though, with no threat to land. It should grow a tad in strength over the next 24 hours, but will likely degenerate starting Saturday.
Its tropical-storm-force winds expand 140 miles from its center, generating maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, which scientists are predicting is the peak of Victor’s strength. It should begin degenerating Saturday morning.
So far, the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season with 20 named systems is the third most active behind 2020′s record year and 2005.
The hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
Staff Writer Lisa Maria Garza contributed to this report.
