Forecasters say Tropical Storm Sam which formed Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean is expected to become a hurricane on Friday before approaching the islands of the Northern Caribbean next week. Tropical storms become hurricanes when maximum sustained winds hit at least 74 mph.
The Saint Lucia Meteorological Services 6:00 pm weather report on Thursday disclosed that at 5:00 pm, the centre of Tropical Storm Sam was located near latitude 11.1 degrees North, longitude 39.7 degrees West.
According to the report, Sam was moving toward the West near 16 mph or 26 km/h, and a general West to West-Northwest motion is expected to continue over the next several days, with a gradual slowdown in forward motion.
“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph or 95 km/h with higher gusts,” the report noted.
It said Sam is forecast to become a hurricane Friday morning and could become a major hurricane by Saturday.
“Current model projections have the system East of the Windward Islands within the next 5 days. Interests in the Leeward and Northern Windward Islands are advised to continue to monitor the progress of this system,” the weather report stated.
Sam is the 18th named system in what has been described as a ‘bustling’ Atlantic Hurricane season which annually runs from June 1 to November 30.
