NEWS ITEM ON HURRICANE SAM, ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION AT 12PM, FRIDAY 24THSEPTEMBER 2021.
…SAM TAKING A MOMENTARY PAUSE IN STRENGTHENING…
…RAPID STRENGTHENING FORECAST TO RESUME SOON…
AT 11 AM AST, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SAMWAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.8° NORTHAND LONGITUDE 43.7° WEST, OR ABOUT 1365 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
SAM IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MILES PER HOUR, AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED AND A MOTION TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST ARE EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 75 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.RAPID INTENSIFICATION IS FORECAST TO RESUME OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND SAM IS LIKELY TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE ON SATURDAY.
