Hurricane Gabrielle was expected to stay well east of Bermuda. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Sept. 22 (UPI) — Gabrielle strengthened into a major hurricane Monday southeast of Bermuda as the storm began a turn toward the east, the National Hurricane Center said.
The eye of the storm was located about 195 miles southeast of Bermuda and was moving north at 10 mph, according to the NHC’s 9 a.m. AST update. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, making it a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but interests in Bermuda were urged to monitor Gabrielle’s progress.
Gabrielle had been traveling northwest and made a turn to the north toward Bermuda as it gathered strength last week. But new modeling shows the storm making a turn toward the east in the next day.
Though the storm is expected to remain well east of Bermuda, the swells it generates will likely affect the island over the next few days.
Forecasters said the storm is expected to maintain its strength through early Tuesday before weakening by midday. Gabrielle will likely hold on to its hurricane status through Thursday.
The swells from the storm have begun to reach the U.S. eastern coast from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada, the NHC said, adding they should continue through early this week.
“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it said.
Gabrielle is the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
Last month, Erin became a Category 5 hurricane with 160-mph winds spreading over 500 miles.
