The latest developed system of the 2021 hurricane season could become the year’s next major hurricane, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Sam formed Thursday and has winds of 70 mph. It's located 1,560 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving west at 15 mph, according to the NHC's latest advisory.
Forecasters expect Sam to keep its current path before making a more northwest turn starting Friday and into the weekend.
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Sam is likely to become a hurricane very soon and then could be a major hurricane by Friday night or early Saturday. South Florida is not expected to be impacted by the system at this time.
Sam is the 18th named system of the season, topping the average of 14 for an entire year. The six named hurricanes are below the average of seven, while the three major hurricanes are on average for an entire season.
