After a lull of nearly three weeks in the Atlantic hurricane season, all eyes are now on Tropical Storm Gabrielle as it churns northward between Puerto Rico and Bermuda, poised to intensify into a hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, Gabrielle became the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season late Wednesday morning, September 17, 2025, marking the first active Atlantic tropical storm since Fernand was declared post-tropical on August 28.
Gabrielle’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Early on, the system contended with strong wind shear and dry air—conditions that typically stifle tropical development. As Tiffany Savona, digital meteorologist for weather.com, explained, “Gabrielle continues to battle strong wind shear and dry air, but has started a strengthening trend as environmental conditions become more favorable.” This shift has prompted forecasters to warn of rapid intensification as the storm approaches Bermuda, with the potential to reach Category 1 or even Category 2 hurricane status by Monday, September 22.
On Sunday morning, September 21, Gabrielle was located about 390 to 455 miles southeast of Bermuda, moving northwest at speeds ranging from 9 to 12 mph, according to updates from both the National Hurricane Center and USA TODAY. The storm’s maximum sustained winds had reached 65 mph, and tropical storm force winds extended up to 140 miles from its center. The hurricane center’s 11 a.m. advisory stated, “Gabrielle is expected to become a hurricane later today, and rapid intensification is possible over the next day or so.”
Despite the growing strength of Gabrielle, there were no official watches or warnings for Bermuda as of Sunday. Still, the National Hurricane Center cautioned residents of the island to remain vigilant. “While chances of the storm hitting Bermuda are decreasing, dangerous winds and rain are still possible in the area,” the NHC noted in its 5 a.m. update. Swells from Gabrielle had already begun to reach Bermuda, and these were expected to build throughout the weekend, bringing life-threatening surf and rip currents not just to Bermuda but also to the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward into Atlantic Canada.
The storm’s projected path keeps it east of Bermuda, sparing the island a direct hit but still posing risks. As weather.com reported, “Gabrielle will pass east of Bermuda, making high surf and rip currents the primary concerns. Some bands of rain are possible, but the storm is expected to be lopsided with most of the rain located east and away from Bermuda.” This means that, while Bermuda may avoid the brunt of Gabrielle’s fury, preparations remain essential as the Atlantic hurricane season’s peak period continues.
For the mainland United States, Gabrielle is not expected to pose a direct threat. However, the indirect impacts are nothing to dismiss. The National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather both warned that “fatally dangerous rip currents are expected along the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina north all the way into Canada’s Atlantic coasts.” These hazardous conditions could persist through mid-week, affecting beachgoers and coastal communities alike. Even Florida, which will stay well out of Gabrielle’s path, could see rough surf and dangerous rip currents during the middle to late portions of next week.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has, by most accounts, been quieter than usual. Gabrielle is only the seventh named storm, and if it reaches hurricane status as forecast, it will be the second Atlantic hurricane of the season. The storm began to form about a week after the statistical peak of hurricane season, a time when tropical activity typically surges. Yet, as weather.com reminds readers, “Even though we are past the statistical peak of hurricane season, it does not mean we can let our guard down yet. We still typically see the highest amount of tropical activity from mid-September through mid-October.”
While Gabrielle dominates headlines, it’s not the only system under scrutiny. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other disturbances in the Atlantic. One massive tropical wave, located west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, has a 40% chance of developing into a tropical depression by Saturday, September 27. “Although environmental conditions are not favorable for development by the middle to latter part of this week, a tropical depression could form while the system moves west-northwestward across the Central Atlantic,” the hurricane center said. A second, more westerly disturbance has a lower chance of development but is still worth watching, especially as it approaches Hispaniola later in the week.
In the Pacific, forecasters are also keeping tabs on a tropical depression expected to form several hundred miles off the southern coast of Mexico, which could bring heavy rainfall as it tracks northwest along the country’s coast through Monday. This multi-basin activity underscores the importance of staying alert and prepared during hurricane season, even as some years see fewer storms than others.
For those living in hurricane-prone areas, preparation remains key. Florida, for instance, made hurricane supplies permanently tax-free starting August 1, a move designed to encourage residents to stock up on essentials like batteries and generators before a storm is imminent. Officials regularly urge residents to assemble hurricane kits and stay informed through weather alerts and official channels.
As Gabrielle’s story unfolds, meteorologists like Adam Klotz of FOX Weather continue to provide updates on nationwide and international weather patterns, ensuring the public remains informed and prepared. The next advisory from the National Hurricane Center is expected at 5 p.m., and with conditions in the Atlantic evolving rapidly, staying updated is more crucial than ever.
In the end, Gabrielle serves as a timely reminder that, even in quieter hurricane seasons, the threat of severe weather is ever-present. With multiple systems brewing and the peak of the season upon us, vigilance and readiness are the best defenses against nature’s unpredictability.
