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Weather

Tropical Storm Sam Expected To Rapidly Intensify

Forecasters say the storm will likely become a hurricane by Friday morning and a major hurricane by Friday night.

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Ashleigh Baldwin, Neighbor
The predicted path of Tropical Storm Sam and when it is expected to make landfall.
The predicted path of Tropical Storm Sam and when it is expected to make landfall. (NOAA National Hurricane Center)

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Tropical Storm Sam is expected to intensify over the next few days, likely becoming a hurricane by Friday morning and a amajor hurricane by Friday night.

The storm is also expected to slow down its forward momentum on Saturday, meaning it likely won't pass over or near the U.S. Virgin Islands until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

The storm currently has maximum sustained winds near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts.

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While the exact path is unknown, forecasters expect the storm to pass over or very near the Territory.

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