In brief
Gabrielle, now a Category 3 hurricane with winds reaching 120 mph, is approximately 195 miles southeast of Bermuda. While the storm poses no immediate threat to land, its swells are affecting coastal areas from North Carolina to Canada with warnings for hazardous surf and rip currents. Despite a slow start to the Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists advise caution as Gabrielle's development may signal potential storms ahead.
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Gabrielle has escalated to a major hurricane in the Atlantic, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (191 kph) and categorizing it as a dangerous Category 3 storm, according to updates from the National Hurricane Center based in Miami. As of Monday, Gabrielle was located around 195 miles (314 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda and is moving north at a speed of approximately 10 mph (16 kph). Initially, the hurricane was categorized as a Category 1 just a day before, but warm waters in the Atlantic have led to its rapid intensification.Despite Gabrielle's strength, forecasts suggest that it will stay offshore, taking a path that moves east of Bermuda. However, the storm's effects are already being felt; swells reached Bermuda over the weekend and are affecting the U.S. East Coast, extending from North Carolina up to Canada’s Atlantic coast. Meteorological experts have cautioned that these swells could lead to dangerous, life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.This year's Atlantic hurricane season has been notably quiet, having seen only one other named hurricane prior to Gabrielle. Experts indicate several factors contributing to this unusual start to the season, but caution that there is still potential for further hurricane development as the season progresses towards its conclusion on November 30.In a related weather update, Tropical Storm Narda has emerged in the Pacific, located offshore of Mexico. While Narda currently poses no threat to land, with top winds around 45 mph (72 kph), there are expectations that it may become a hurricane by Tuesday.
