The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Tropical Storm Gabrielle to hurricane status and says the storm could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane with winds greater than 115 mph. Fortunately, the storm is expected to curve out to sea, bringing pounding rough surf to Bermuda as it heads away from North America.
Gabrielle is currently located 320 miles southeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph while thr minimum central pressure is down to 992 mb or 29.30″.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect but the National Hurricane Center says interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Gabrielle.
Gabrielle is now moving toward the North-northwest near 10 mph. The National Hurricane Center says a turn more northward is forecast on Monday, followed by a somewhat faster northeastward or east-northeastward motion on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Gabrielle is expected to pass east of Bermuda on Monday evening.
Additional steady to rapid intensification is forecast over the next day or so, and Gabrielle could become a major hurricane in the early part of this week.
Swells generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda during the next few days. These swells are now reaching the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada, and are expected to continue through the early part this week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along that part of the East Coast.
