How strong will Sam get?

[aspen]

We can’t have an ACE poll thread without an intensity one.

Options for the poll:
65-80 kt
85-95 kt
100-110 kt
115-120 kt
120-130 kt
130-140 kt
140-150 kt
>150 kt and higher

My guess is 120-130 kt. Sam will have a very favorable environment over the next 3-5 days, and the HWRF has yet to suggest it will develop a massive eye that’ll halt intensification like what happened with Larry.

[cycloneye]

Made the poll that will be open for voting until next Sunday at 1:10 PM EDT. aspen, I added 150 kt and higher.

[ElectricStorm]

Going with a solid Cat 4. 120-130kts

[Shell Mound]

75–85 kt near the Leeward Islands, 115–120 kt (peak) near Bermuda (analog: 2011’s Ophelia)

[underthwx]

Between 130-140 kts....

[CrazyC83]

I think 125 kt / 937 mb, although the wind and pressure peaks will not be at the same time (the wind peak much earlier).

[supercane4867]

I'm going with 140kt or higher

[Stormybajan]

Locking in the mid-range with 120-130 knots..pressure around 940 mb

[tolakram]

This morning I said 115 to 120. This might bust low, we'll see.

[Ubuntwo]

I'm thinking a low end cat 4. Biggest question mark is core dynamics, so tough to forecast. MPIs support a cat 5 for the next week.

[InfernoFlameCat]

I went with 140-150 knots. I made a very bullish prediction. Here is why: ssts are very high at 29 C along with next to no wind shear and a very unstable environment. This should allow for the formation of a small eye and therefore a steeper pressure gradient. So my prediction is 145 knots with a pressure of 921 mb. This is my most bullish prediction ever but I believe that this is the scenario that will unfold.

[Blinhart]

Ok I'm not the first to vote for it, but the first to put it out there, I voted for 150+. I'm going to say at least 165 Kts and pressure down to 900 or lower. This will be a very strong Cat 5.

[zal0phus]

I feel quite bullish for Sam's prospects. I anticipate 140 knots with a pressure in the 910s; something akin to Isabel.