Sam’s swells to reach U.S. coast this weekend, and Tropical Storm Victor stays at sea
As Hurricane Sam continues its trek in the Atlantic toward Bermuda, its swells, which could bring life-threatening surf and rip currents, are forecast to reach the U.S. East Coast this weekend.
On Thursday, Bermuda was placed under a tropical storm watch ahead of Sam’s expected approach.
The Category 4 hurricane is forecast to pass to the east of Bermuda early Saturday, with tropical-storm-force winds possible on the island beginning Friday night or early Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Sam remained a powerful and “impressive” hurricane Thursday, with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph with higher gusts, according to the hurricane center. It is forecast to remain a major hurricane through Saturday, then it should see some weakening. As of the 11 a.m. advisory, it was about 365 miles north-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and about 730 miles south-southeast of Bermuda.
Sam is forecast to pass well to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands Thursday, with its swells impacting the islands the Greater Antilles, including Puerto Rico, during the next few days. Sam is forecast to make a turn toward the north Friday. This is also when its swells should reach Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Tropical Storm Victor forecast to be a hurricane
Tropical Storm Victor, the 20th named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the eastern Atlantic Wednesday. Contrary to earlier forecasts, Victor is no longer expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves through the Atlantic, far from land.
The storm was about 555 miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands on Thursday and is moving west-northwest, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts, according to the hurricane center.
The forecast shows it remaining a tropical storm as it’s in the open waters of the Atlantic, far from Florida and any other land, before weakening back down to a tropical depression during the weekend.
There are no other disturbances remaining in the Atlantic Basin.
This story was originally published September 29, 2021 at 7:12 AM.
