National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Gabrielle strengthens into powerful Category 4 storm

ORLANDO, Fla. - Hurricane Gabrielle strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm Monday evening as it churned past Bermuda, forecasters said.

The NHC is also keeping its eyes on two other disturbances that are being monitored for potential tropical development.  

Tracking Hurricane Gabrielle

What we know:

The National Hurricane Center said Gabrielle’s eye was located about 180 miles east-southeast of Bermuda late Monday afternoon.  

Data from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft and satellites showed maximum sustained winds near 140 mph with higher gusts, making Gabrielle a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Forecasters said little change in strength is likely overnight, followed by gradual weakening over the next two days.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 40 miles from the storm’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach outward as far as 140 miles, the hurricane center said. The estimated minimum central pressure of Gabrielle is 948 mb.

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What's next:

The storm was moving north-northeast at about 12 mph and is expected to accelerate toward the northeast or east-northeast Tuesday and Wednesday.

On its forecast track, the center of Gabrielle is expected to pass east of Bermuda Monday night.

Why you should care:

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. However, forecasters say interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Gabrielle.

While Gabrielle is not a direct threat to Florida or the United States, it is expected to bring hazardous surf and rip currents to Bermuda beaches, as well as along portions of North Carolina and the Eastern Coast. 

The backstory:

Gabrielle strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday, becoming the second hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. On Monday morning, the hurricane rapidly strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 3 and by late afternoon became a Category 4 storm.

2 disturbances in the Atlantic

What we know:

The NHC is also tracking two other areas of concern for possible tropical development in the Atlantic.

System 1

A tropical wave in the Central Tropical Atlantic is producing limited showers and thunderstorms well to the west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.  

Although dry air should prevent any significant development over the next day or two, environmental conditions should gradually become more favorable for development thereafter, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter part of this week while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward across the Central Atlantic.

The system currently has a 30% chance of development over the next 48 hours and an 80% chance of development over the next week. 

System 2

Meanwhile, a tropical wave located well to the east of the Lesser Antilles is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.  

Environmental conditions appear marginally conducive for slow development over the next several days as the wave moves quickly westward to west-northwestward at 15–20 mph.  

By the latter part of this week, the system is expected to slow down and turn more northwestward, to the north of Hispaniola.  

Regardless of development, gusty winds and showers are expected for portions of the Leeward Islands late Monday night and Tuesday.

The system currently has a 10% chance of development over the next 48 hours and a 50% chance of development over the next week. 

2025 Atlantic hurricane season

Big picture view:

The peak of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was on Sept. 10, but the most active months are typically August, September and October. 

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The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through Nov. 30.

The next three names on the list are Humberto, Imelda and Jerry.

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