20 p.m. ET). Sam is simply a almighty Category 4 tempest but it poses nary menace to onshore arsenic it loops northward successful the Atlantic, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. (NOAA via AP)

This outer representation provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Sam, conscionable close of center, successful the Atlantic Ocean, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, astatine 1920 Zulu (3:20 p.m. ET). Sam is simply a almighty Category 4 tempest but it poses nary menace to onshore arsenic it loops northward successful the Atlantic, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. (NOAA via AP)

MIAMI – Hurricane Sam was a almighty Category 3 tempest successful the Atlantic Ocean connected Monday but was centered good offshore and posed nary threats to land, though it could make unsafe rip currents.

Sam is located astir 700 miles (1,127 kilometers) eastbound of the bluish Leeward Islands and is traveling northwest astatine 9 mph (14 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said successful a late-afternoon advisory.

Its maximum sustained winds dropped to 120 mph (193 kph) Monday afternoon, making it a Category 3 hurricane. Forecasters said determination would beryllium small alteration successful its spot implicit the adjacent time oregon so, followed by a dilatory weakening. Sam is expected to stay a large hurricane done midweek.

The Miami-based hurricane halfway said Sam was a tiny tropical cyclone, with hurricane-force winds extending outward conscionable 30 miles (48 kilometers) from its center.

No coastal watches oregon warnings were successful effect. But swells from Hurricane Sam could origin unsafe rip existent conditions disconnected the seashore of the Lesser Antilles aboriginal this week, forecasters said.

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