Hurricane Gabrielle intensified into a major Category 3 storm on Monday as it churned over the Atlantic Ocean, but forecasters said it is expected to remain far from land.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Gabrielle’s maximum sustained winds climbed to 120 mph, making it a dangerous major hurricane. As of Monday afternoon, the storm was located about 195 miles southeast of Bermuda and moving north at roughly 10 mph.
Gabrielle first reached Category 1 status on Sunday before rapidly strengthening over warm Atlantic waters. While its path is expected to keep it east of Bermuda, the storm is already producing swells that have reached the island and are affecting the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina up to Atlantic Canada.
Forecasters warned that the swells could create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along affected coastlines.
Two Other Systems on the Radar
The NHC is also tracking two additional areas of potential development in the Atlantic.
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Easternmost system: A tropical wave about halfway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles could follow a track similar to Gabrielle’s, though it remains uncertain whether it will pose a threat to Bermuda next week.
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Westernmost system: Closer to the Caribbean, an area near the Leeward Islands could bring increased showers through Tuesday before moving generally north of Hispaniola. Forecasters say it could see some development later this week near the Bahamas or in the Bermuda Triangle. It’s too early to know whether it might threaten the U.S. East Coast or curve harmlessly out to sea.
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet, with only one other named hurricane before Gabrielle. The next names on the 2025 list are Humberto and Imelda. The season runs through November 30.
