Tropical Storm Gabrielle expected to become 2nd Atlantic hurricane of the season

"As of 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Gabrielle was moving northwest in the Atlantic and had sustained winds of 65 mph and was about 580 mph southeast of Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center said. David Roth, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, said Gabrielle is expected to eventually have maximum sustained winds of up to 105 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center said Gabrielle is forecast to pass east of Bermuda Sunday night or Monday."

""They'll notice there are some higher waves Tuesday," Roth said. "On Sunday and Monday their easterly winds might increase some. But it doesn't take much wind to produce rip currents." The National Hurricane Center reports Gabrielle is also expected to miss the U.S. mainland but swells could reach the East Coast, north of North Carolina. Once Gabrielle passes Bermuda, it's forecast to then curve northeast toward the Azores."

Tropical Storm Gabrielle had sustained winds of 65 mph and was located about 580 miles southeast of Bermuda as of 5 p.m. ET Saturday while moving northwest in the Atlantic. Forecasts indicate Gabrielle could strengthen to maximum sustained winds near 105 mph, reaching Category 2 intensity. Gabrielle is expected to pass east of Bermuda Sunday night or Monday, likely avoiding a direct hit but producing swells and higher waves that could create life-threatening surf and rip currents. Gabrielle is also expected to miss the U.S. mainland, though swells could reach the East Coast north of North Carolina, and then curve northeast toward the Azores. If it becomes a hurricane, it would be the second Atlantic hurricane of the season, forming nearly a month later than average; the season runs through Nov. 30.

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