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Hurricane Sam weakens to a Category 3, and 3 tropical depressions could form this week

Hurricane Sam weakened slightly to a Category 3 storm on Monday as it continued barreling across the Atlantic, and forecasters are also eyeing three systems that could turn into tropical depressions this week, including the remnants of Peter.

Sam and what used to be Peter aren’t threats to Florida. The two disturbances in the far eastern Atlantic should be monitored during the next few days.

Here’s what to know:

Hurricane Sam hits its peak

Sam has come down from its peak of intensity, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of 5 p.m. it was a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds. While some slow weakening is forecast through midweek, Sam is expected to remain a major hurricane.

The storm was about 700 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. It was moving northwest at 9 mph and is forecast to bump back up to a Category 4 for the next day or so before returning to a Category 3 as it nears Bermuda on Saturday.

Hurricane Sam was a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds.
Hurricane Sam was a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds.

While the storm is strong, it remains small, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles from its center and tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 105 miles, according to the hurricane center.

Swells generated by Sam could reach the Lesser Antilles and bring life-threatening surf and rip current conditions to the islands for the next several days.

Atlantic disturbances forecast to turn into tropical depressions

A disturbance with disorganized showers and thunderstorms several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands Monday has a high chance of turning into a tropical depression this week.

Forecasters gave it a 70% chance of formation through the next 48 hours and an 90% chance of formation through the next five days as it moves west to west-northwest over the Atlantic, as of the 8 p.m. update.

Following is a tropical wave expected to move off the west coast of Africa Monday. Forecasters expect it will also turn into a tropical depression this week as it moves west. This system also had a 70% chance of strengthening in the next two days and an 90% chance in the next five.

As Hurricane Sam continues to barrel across the Atlantic Monday, forecasters are also eying three systems that could turn into tropical depressions this week, including Peter’s remnants.
As Hurricane Sam continues to barrel across the Atlantic Monday, forecasters are also eying three systems that could turn into tropical depressions this week, including Peter’s remnants.

What about Peter?

Forecasters are also continuing to monitor Peter’s remnants a few hundred miles southeast of Bermuda.

The system’s showers and thunderstorms have become more organized and there’s a chance Peter could briefly turn into a tropical depression again during the next day or two as it moves northeast across open waters.

The hurricane center gave it a 60% chance of forming in the next two to five days.

The next names on the list are Victor and Wanda.