Meteorologists at the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) renew monitoring of Tropical Storm Victor and Hurricane Sam, despite both systems not being expected to pose direct threats to land on Thursday (September 30).

Tropical Depression 20 strengthened into Tropical Storm Victor late Wednesday.

The NHC, in respective bulletins this morning, said projections for both Sam and Victor place the storms remaining in the open ocean; out of the range of the Caribbean islands.

As at 11:00 am Atlantic Standard Time (AST), the centre of Hurricane Sam was located near 22.6 North, longitude 60.0 West—or roughly 585 kilometres north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.

Sam, still a compact storm, is moving northwest at 20 kilometres/hour, and has restrengthened over the last 24 hours, packing maximum sustained winds at 230 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

The re-intensification effectively returned Hurricane Sam to category four status on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 95 kilometres from Sam’s centre, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 240 kilometres.

The Bermuda Weather Service has activated a tropical storm watch for the island, as Hurricane Sam may pass far to the east of the territory on Saturday morning.

On the forecast track, the NHC indicated that Hurricane Sam may maintain its major hurricane status well into the weekend, however, variations in strength are possible.

“Some fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next couple of days, but Sam is forecast to remain a major hurricane through Saturday, with more significant weakening anticipated later in the weekend,” the hurricane watchdog noted.

In the meantime, Tropical Storm Victor was located near latitude 9.5 North, longitude 28.9 West—or some 895 kilometres southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands as at 3:00 pm Cape Verde Time (CVT).

Victor is moving west-northwest near 22 kilometres/hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

While the system has triggered no coastal watches or warnings, sleuths at the Miami-based NHC anticipates Victor developing into a hurricane over the next few hours.

“Gradual strengthening is forecast, and Victor could be near hurricane strength on Friday. A weakening trend is expected to begin over the weekend,” the NHC said.

A third tropical wave, straddled between Sam and Victor, is the last tropical disturbance being watched by the NHC, however, as environmental conditions hampered its progress the outlook for development over the next two to five days has been listed at a “low” zero per cent.

Recent storm coverage:

• Tropical Storm Sam forms, expected to intensify into a hurricane
• ‘Compact’ Hurricane Sam roars in open Atlantic, storm expected to further swell
• Hurricane Sam inching away from the Caribbean, more trouble emerges off African coast
• Montserrat activates high-surf advisory as Hurricane Sam whips up big waves