MIAMI — Hurricane Sam has strengthened into a Category 4 storm again as it moves north across the Atlantic’s open waters. Forecasters are also monitoring three disturbances forecast to turn into tropical depressions soon.
One of the systems, the remnants of Peter, is a few hundred miles east of Bermuda and could become a short-lived depression by Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The other two disturbances, in the eastern Atlantic, are forecast to turn into tropical depressions in the next two days as they move west-northwest.
Hurricane Sam and the remnants of Peter aren’t threats to Florida. The other two systems are far away and should be monitored.
The closer of the systems had a 70% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and an 80% chance of formation through the next five days as of the 8 a.m. update, while the tropical wave behind it had slightly higher chances at 80% for the next two days and 90% for the next five.
If the systems were to strengthen into tropical storms, their names would be Victor and Wanda.
As of the 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday advisory, Sam was about 580 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, and is bringing large swells to the islands.
Those swells, which could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, are expected to reach the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas and Bermuda by Thursday or Friday and the U.S. east coast and Atlantic Canada by the weekend.
On the forecast track, Sam should pass well to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on Wednesday and Thursday. The hurricane is moving toward the northwest and is expected to do so for the next few days before making a turn toward the north Friday.
Forecasters expect Sam’s strength to fluctuate over the next few days, although it will remain a major hurricane at least through the weekend. The forecast shows it weakening back to a Category 3 by the time nears Bermuda Saturday.
