There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

SURF: Swells generated by Sam will reach the Lesser Antilles today and impact these islands for the next several days. 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. These swells could cause life threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Sam was located near latitude 15.6 North, longitude 52.0 West. Sam is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days, with an increase in forward speed beginning on Thursday. A turn to the north is expected on Friday. On the forecast track, Sam will pass well to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands Wednesday and Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Sam is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next days, although Sam is forecast to remain a major hurricane through at least Thursday night. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). The minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 966 mb (28.53 inches).

Sam appeared weaker on satellite images earlier this morning, and the eye was not apparent in visible or infrared satellite imagery. However, a 27/0741 UTC SSMIS pass still showed a well-defined eye. Recent visible and infrared images from the past couple of hours however, show that the structure is becoming better organized again, with the eye again becoming apparent on visible satellite. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft has made one pass through the hurricane so far and found that the central pressure has risen to about 966 mb. The current intensity estimate is reduced slightly to 110 kt. The aircraft has not yet sampled the northeast quadrant, where the strongest winds are likely occurring.

The initial motion is estimated to be northwestward, or 310/7. A subtropical ridge to the north and northeast of Sam will remain the primary steering mechanism over the next several days, and Sam is expected to continue on a similar heading through the next 72 hours or so. A mid- to upper-level trough is forecast to emerge off the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast and dig southward over the western Atlantic late this week. The deep-layer southerly flow ahead of this feature should cause Sam to accelerate to the north-northwest by late Thursday and then turn northward on Friday. The NHC forecast track is largely unchanged from the previous, except it is shifted ever so slightly westward at the hour 72 and 96 points, about midway between the previous NHC forecast and the latest HCCA consensus. The confidence in the track forecast is medium to high through 3 to 4 days. Beyond that time, confidence is about average, as there is some increase in model spread noted.

Regarding the intensity forecast, Sam is forecast to travel over warm ocean temperatures while it remains in an environment of low vertical wind shear through the next 4 days. Some mid-level dry air noted on water vapor channels to the west of Sam could play a role in limiting Sam's intensity through hour 48. However, the environment could become more moist again after that time. Due to these competing factors, I opted to hold the intensity steady for the next several days, although fluctuations in intensity can be expected. The NHC intensity forecast is above all model guidance through hour 60, and is in agreement with the model consensus at hour 72-96. After that time, increasing wind shear induced by the approaching mid- to upper-level trough to the northwest of the cyclone should cause weakening.