Hurricane Sam will pump larger waves, rip currents along NC coast late week

MIAMI (WWAY / AP) — Hurricane Sam is a powerful Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Ocean, but forecasters said late Sunday that it had peaked in intensity.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Sam was centered about 800 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds dropped to 130 mph Monday morning. Forecasters say there will be little change in strength over the next day or so, followed by a slow weakening.

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect. However, swells from Hurricane Sam could cause dangerous rip current conditions off the coast of the Lesser Antilles early this week.

The Carolina coast will see a higher threat for rip currents and larger swell late week / this weekend.

Get the latest tropical forecast here.