In brief
Gabrielle, a major hurricane in the Atlantic, has reached Category 3 status with winds of 120 mph. Situated about 195 miles southeast of Bermuda, it is moving north and expected to influence swells impacting the U.S. East Coast, causing dangerous surf and rip currents. This season has been relatively quiet thus far, with Gabrielle being the second named storm.
MIAMI (AP) — Gabrielle strengthened into a major hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday but was forecast to remain away from land.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported that Gabrielle’s maximum sustained winds increased to 120 mph (191 kph), categorizing it as a dangerous Category 3 hurricane.
Currently, the storm is situated approximately 195 miles (314 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda and moving northward at about 10 mph (16 kph).
Gabrielle began as a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday and exhibited rapid intensification while traversing warm Atlantic waters, maintaining a course to the east of Bermuda.
Swells from Gabrielle have reached Bermuda and are affecting the U.S. East Coast, extending from North Carolina northward up to Canada's Atlantic region. Forecasters warn that these swells could create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
So far, this year's Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet; Gabrielle marks only the second named hurricane to develop in these waters. Experts believe multiple factors contribute to this calm, though they caution that more dangerous systems could form later in the season.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs until November 30.
In parallel news, Tropical Storm Narda emerged off the coast of Mexico on Sunday, generating no immediate threat to land. The hurricane center indicated that Narda boasts top sustained winds of around 45 mph (72 kph) and is located approximately 160 miles (258 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). It is anticipated that Narda will strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday.
