Hurricane Sam path 2021 LIVE – Storm ‘to be Category 4’ as trackers say it could head for east coast after strengthening

HURRICANE Sam has strengthened from a tropical storm over the Atlantic and is now expected to be a major storm later in the day.

The storm, which is the 18th named one of the season, is forecast to become a Category 4, according to the Weather Channel.

Sam strengthened into a hurricane shortly before 5am Friday morning, and is expected to become a major hurricane late Friday and into Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Sam is currently about 1,400 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands but is heading west toward them.

It could be days until the storm reaches the islands, according to the Weather Channel.

A hurricane warning has been put in place for the Atlantic.

Read our Hurricane Sam live blog for the latest news and updates…