Tropical Storm Gabrielle Forms in the Atlantic, Expected to Become a Hurricane
Tropical Storm Gabrielle has formed in the Central Atlantic and is predicted to strengthen into a hurricane. According to FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg, the storm is not expected to directly impact the United States but may affect Bermuda.
Current Status of Tropical Storm Gabrielle
As of Wednesday morning, Tropical Storm Gabrielle was located approximately 1,000 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands at 17.5°N 46.6°W. The storm's maximum sustained winds are currently at 45 miles per hour, and it is moving north-northwest at 22 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) anticipates the storm will reach hurricane status by Sunday.
Projected Path and Potential Impacts
While Gabrielle is not forecast to directly impact South Florida or the broader United States, meteorologists are closely monitoring its path. Osterberg suggests that Bermuda could potentially experience some impact. Forecasters are in a "watch-and-wait" mode, noting that by Monday, the storm should be far off the eastern coast of the US as it turns northward. The CBS Miami NEXT Weather team emphasized that any potential impacts to Florida or the U.S. are still days away due to the storm's distance and present movement.
Expert Commentary and Future Outlook
Osterberg stated, "This is going to be one of those storms that gets a name, but more than likely, isn’t going to bother anybody. We’ll watch it but all the computer models pretty much say the same thing- it’s moving out to sea and to the north." The NHC expects Gabrielle's motion to slow and become erratic over the next few days, drifting northwest to west-northwest across the central Atlantic. Behind Gabrielle, the NEXT Weather team is also monitoring a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa, which currently has a low 20% chance of tropical development over the next week.
2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Overview
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be above-normal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with an expected 13 to 18 named storms. Five to nine of these are anticipated to become hurricanes. Erin was the first hurricane of the season. Historically, hurricane activity peaks around September 10, with roughly 60% of activity occurring after that date. Experts like David Zierden, the Florida state climatologist, note that September and October often see the busiest activity due to high sea surface temperatures.
Increased Activity Expected
While the peak of hurricane season has passed, forecasters anticipate increased tropical activity over the next few weeks. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts rising odds of tropical development across the Atlantic Basin. Tropical weather experts at Colorado State University (CSU) concur, expecting shifting atmospheric conditions to support a notable increase in activity.
