Tropical Storm Sam is growing fast and closing in on becoming the season’s seventh hurricane.
Sam is expected to become a major storm this weekend, Channel 9 certified chief meteorologist Tom Terry said.
The storm may get “uncomfortably close” to the northeast Caribbean slands next week, Terry said.
5 p.m. update
Tropical Storm Sam has winds reaching up to 60 MPH and will likely become a large, major hurricane this weekend, Channel 9 Certified Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said.
Steering winds should keep the brunt of the storm just north of the Northeast Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.
11 a.m. update
Tropical Storm Sam strengthened and became the 18th named storm of the season.
Forecasters said the storm is expected to become a hurricane on Friday.
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A Manville Police Officer stands guard near the remains of a house that exploded due to severe flooding from Tropical Storm Ida in Manville, NJ., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Dozens of people in five states died as storm water cascaded into people’s homes and engulfed automobiles, overwhelming urban drainage systems never meant to handle so much rain in such a short time. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A vacate order from the New York City Department of Buildings is posted on an apartment building door, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. People died in a basement apartment Wednesday as rain and flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Shoes dry on the roof of a car, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. The area was flooded Wednesday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A Manville Police Officer stands guard near the remains of a house that exploded due to severe flooding from Tropical Storm Ida in Manville, NJ., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Dozens of people in five states died as storm water cascaded into people’s homes and engulfed automobiles, overwhelming urban drainage systems never meant to handle so much rain in such a short time. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast People clear debris and damaged belongings from their homes, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. The area was flooded Wednesday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A Manville Police Officer stands guard near the remains of a house that exploded due to severe flooding from Tropical Storm Ida in Manville, NJ., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. The cleanup and mourning has continued as the Northeast U.S. recovers from record-breaking rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Police tape protects a vacated apartment building, center, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. Three people were killed in a basement apartment when it was flooded Wednesday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A Manville Police Officer stands guard near the remains of a house that exploded due to severe flooding from Tropical Storm Ida in Manville, NJ., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Dozens of people in five states died as storm water cascaded into people’s homes and engulfed automobiles, overwhelming urban drainage systems never meant to handle so much rain in such a short time. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A woman cleans shoes that were damaged by flooding at her home, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. The area was flooded Wednesday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A man who gave his name as John, helps to clean a friend's basement, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. The area was flooded Wednesday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida sent the New York City area into a state of emergency. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A man plays a guitar by the flooded street in the Town of Bound Brook in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Flooded streets are seen in the Town of Bound Brook in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Flooded streets are seen in the Town of Bound Brook in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Water from the Schuylkill River floods freight rail tracks after flooding from heavy rains from hurricane Ida in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 2, 2021 - Flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least 44 people in four northeastern US states overnight into Thursday, including several who perished in basements during the "historic" weather event officials blamed on climate change. (Branden Eastwood/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A car is left abandoned Knickerbocker Avenue after heavy rains from storm Ida caused flooding in Brooklyn, New York on September 2, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Memo Juarez moves his items after heavy rains from storm Ida caused flooding in Queens, New York on September 2, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast People inspect near floodwater covered streets in Middlesex after Hurricane Ida left behind flash floods east coast, in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast An aerial view of flooded streets in the Town of Bound Brook in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A man rides a bike on the flooded street in the Town of Bound Brook in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast Kayakers paddel down a portion of Interstate 676 after flooding from heavy rains from hurricane Ida in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 2, 2021. Flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least 44 people in four northeastern US states overnight into Thursday, including several who perished in basements during the "historic" weather event officials blamed on climate change. (Branden Eastwood/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A view of a house surrounded by floodwater in Middlesex after Hurricane Ida left behind flash floods east coast, in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A kayaker paddles down a portion of Interstate 676 after flooding from heavy rains from hurricane Ida in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 2, 2021. Flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least 44 people in four northeastern US states overnight into Thursday, including several who perished in basements during the "historic" weather event officials blamed on climate change. (Branden Eastwood/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A view of floodwater covered streets in Middlesex after Hurricane Ida left behind flash floods east coast, in New Jersey, United States on September 2, 2021. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast A collapsed Exxon gas station is seen after heavy rains from storm Ida caused flooding in Whitestone neighborhood in Queens, New York on September 2, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Cleanup begins after Ida drenches Northeast PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - SEPTEMBER 2: Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department guide a raft after a rescue from flooding in Center City. (Caroline Gutman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Meteorologists said Sam is expected to continue to strengthen over the next few days.
The storm could be near major hurricane intensity by the end of the weekend.