Hurricane Sam becomes Category 4 storm far from land

MIAMI (AP) — Far from land, Hurricane Sam has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for Sam, which was about 990 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday night.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Sam has maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.

Forecasters say Sam could get even stronger Sunday morning with winds of 150 mph.

Officials say swells from the storm could cause dangerous rip current conditions off the coast of the Lesser Antilles early next week.

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