Tropical Storm Gabrielle has formed in the far central Atlantic, the 7th named storm of an increasingly busy Atlantic Hurricane Season. Fortunately, Gabrielle should not impact any U.S. interest.
In the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center this morning, the center of Tropical Storm Gabrielle was located near latitude 19.6 North, longitude 33.6 West. Gabrielle is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph and this general motion is forecast to continue through Friday, with an increase in forward speed expected late in the week.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle is not expected to become a hurricane at this time. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, but maximum sustained winds aren’t expected to reach hurricane strength at all over the next 3-5 days. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb or 29.68 inches of mercury.
On its current forecast track, Gabrielle should remain a “fish storm” and not impact the United States. However, Gabrielle’s position in the Atlantic could help steer a new system coming off the continent of Africa towards North America. That system, which if named would become Humberto, could bring severe hurricane conditions to portions of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and/or the U.S. East Coast in less than 2 weeks.
