Hurricane Sam is now a major hurricane (Category 3) with 120 mph winds. It’s forecast to reach Category 4 status Sunday with 130 mph winds. At this point, Sam isn’t regarded as a threat to South Florida. (National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane Sam strengthened to a major Category 3 storm Saturday morning while Teresa is now a subtropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said.
Sam, the seventh hurricane of the season is expected to strengthen more today as it moves west-northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and higher gusts, according to the NHC’s 11 a.m. update.
The storm’s reach is fairly small with its hurricane-force winds reaching 15 miles from its core, and its tropical-storm-force winds extending 60 miles. As of the latest update, Sam is 1,095 miles east-southeast from the northern Leeward Islands. Sam is forecast to decrease in forward speed over the weekend, said NHC hurricane specialist John Cangialosi.
It is still unclear whether Sam will affect Florida or any part of the United States.
U.S. models have the storm continuing to move west toward the Caribbean, but most projections have Sam pushing north just before making landfall in Dominica. European models have Sam making a more aggressive push into the Caribbean before turning north.
Hurricane Sam storm model projections 5 a.m. 09/24/21 (The National Hurricane Center)
Satellite images show Sam has an impressive structure in its early days with a small but well-developed inner core, according to NHC hurricane specialist Cangialosi.
ok, last night on local weather they pointed out an eye forming…but sheesh… from cat 1 to 4 over night?!?
Hurricane Sam has resumed rapid strengthening but its track has shifted a little to the north and east, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory. (National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane Sam strengthened to a major Category 4 storm Saturday morning while Teresa is now a post-tropical cyclone, the National Hurricane Center said.
Sam, the seventh hurricane of the season, now has maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and higher gusts and is moving west-northwest at 10 mph, according to the NHC’s 5 p.m. update.*
The storm’s reach is fairly small with its hurricane-force winds reaching 15 miles from its core, and its tropical-storm-force winds extending 60 miles. As of the latest update, Sam is 1,025 miles east-southeast from the northern Leeward Islands. Sam is forecast to decrease in forward speed over the weekend, said NHC hurricane specialist John Cangialosi.
It is still unclear whether Sam will affect Florida or any part of the United States.
U.S. models have the storm continuing to move west toward the Caribbean, but most projections have Sam pushing north just before making landfall in Dominica. European models have Sam making a more aggressive push into the Caribbean before turning north.
Hurricane Sam storm model projections 5 a.m. 09/24/21 (The National Hurricane Center)
Satellite images show Sam has an impressive structure in its early days with a small but well-developed inner core, according to NHC hurricane specialist Cangialosi.
All of the Sam and (likely to be named) Victor spaghetti is looking favorable! Just curling off into the Atlantic away from pretty much everyone, hopefully.
The tropical outlook as of 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. (National Hurricane Center)
The system has only a 10% chance of forming in the next two days, and 20% in the next five.
If it were to spin up into a system with 39 mph sustained winds or greater, it would become Tropical Storm Wanda, the last name of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season list before the NHC would move to a second alphabet.
Heard there’s a new hurricane topic I needed to check out. Hope everyone’s making out well! Its been such a crazy year down here. Just some moderate roof damage from 2 trees. Didnt have power for 15 days. Phone service is still spotty. Finally getting debris picked up this week. Its been a mess but places about half hour to 2 hours west to southwest got it worse. That little jog in Idas path to the east messed us up
First time I can recall impacts of a Pacific hurricane hitting here? Just looks like it’s going to be a brief soaking.
ETA: Pam appears to be skirting by us, heading NE. I think I headed her off by not running the sprinklers this morning! Because, y’know, we were supposed to get drenched.
