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Tropical Storm Sam forms in Atlantic, expected to become major hurricane
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Tropical Storm Sam formed in the Atlantic on Thursday and is expected to become a major hurricane./Getty Images

Tropical Storm Sam formed in the Atlantic on Thursday and is expected to become a major hurricane./Getty Images

Tropical Storm Sam has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to become a major hurricane.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm's maximum sustained winds Thursday are near 50 mph with additional strengthening expected.

The storm is expected to be near major hurricane strength by the end of the weekend. It was centered about 1,745 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving west about 16 mph.

"It is noteworthy that this is the 2nd earliest formation of the 18th named storm in the Atlantic basin, moving ahead of the 2005 hurricane season, and only trailing last year," says the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Sam is the 18th named storm of an active hurricane season.

"Environmental conditions all seem to be favorable for the storm to gain strength during the next several days," the NHC said in its morning discussion. "Nearly all of the models respond by showing steady strengthening during the next several days, and so does the official forecast."

The NHC cautions that the size and intensity of Sam could play a role in its ultimate track evolution.

(With input from agencies)

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