Sam Major Cat 3 Hurricane Monday, Atlantic Still Active

Hurricane Sam continued to churn in the Atlantic as a major category 3 storm with winds of 125 miles per hour Monday morning.

While there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect currently, the National Hurricane Center says swells from Sam will affect the Lesser Antilles over the next several days as it moves slowly northwestward.

"Swells are expected to reach Bermuda and the Bahamas mid-to-late week, and then spread to the United States east coast late this week," added the NHC. "These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."

Besides Hurricane Sam, the Atlantic remains active with three areas of interest under the eye of the NHC. There are just two names remaining on the 2021 list, Victor and Wanda, before this year's supplemental list of names would be used, replacing the Greek letter system used in previous years.

There is no immediate threat to the Gulf Coast from any of the systems currently in the Atlantic.

Here is the NHC's Monday morning tropical weather outlook:

An elongated area of low pressure associated with the remnants of Peter is located a few hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda. Showers and thunderstorms associated with this system have changed little in organization since yesterday. However, environmental conditions are marginally conducive for some further development, and Peter could briefly become a tropical depression again during the next day or two while it moves northeastward near 10 mph.

By midweek, environmental conditions are expected to become unfavorable for further development.

Formation chance through:
5 days: Medium (50%)

Disorganized showers and thunderstorms are associated with a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for further development of this disturbance, and a tropical depression is likely to form in a few days while it moves westward to west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph over the central tropical Atlantic.

Formation chance through...
5 days: High (80%)

A tropical wave is moving offshore the west coast of Africa and into the far eastern tropical Atlantic. Upper-level winds are forecast to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form in a few days while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the far eastern tropical Atlantic.

Formation chance through...
5 days: High (80%)