Hurricane Sam Intensifies Over Atlantic

Hurricane Sam is the 18th named storm and the 7th hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center, Sam is traveling with winds of 75 miles per hour and could become a major hurricane by tonight or tomorrow afternoon. Yesterday, Sam started the day with winds of 35 miles per hour and ended it at 70 miles per hour, going from a tropical depression to a hurricane in less than 24 hours.

Currently, Sam is approximately 1,470 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward islands and is moving west at 15 mph. Impacts in the islands are expected next week. So far this year there have been three major hurricanes with a category 3 or stronger which included Grace, Ida and Larry. Forecasters are urging residents in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the East Coast and Atlantic Canada to monitor the system.