Despite facing a large amount of dry air and wind shear, Tropical Storm Gabrielle has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, doing so Wednesday morning. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the system could develop into a hurricane by the conclusion of this weekend.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle forms following a record 20 days of inactivity in the Atlantic hurricane season. The peak started Sept. 10.
Per the most recent advisory from the NHC, Gabrielle currently has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts hitting higher paces. (RELATED: Wild Video Shows Arizona State Football Stadium Completely Being Taken Over By Massive Dust Storm)
In terms of the storm’s strength, not much change is expected in the next couple of days, according to the NHC. However, the weekend is expected to see gradual intensification.
The latest forecast Wednesday has Tropical Storm Gabrielle potentially strengthening into a hurricane by Sunday, with models showing at least a Category 1.
Completely surrounded by a ton of wind shear and dry air, Tropical Storm Gabrielle has managed to develop in the central Atlantic Ocean.
The current data shows the storm’s pressure is at 1000mb with winds at 45 MPH. This history-maker has ended a record 20 days of inactivity. pic.twitter.com/vKtoSnrM35
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) September 17, 2025
The current location of Tropical Storm Gabrielle is a little more than 1,000 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and is headed north-northwest moving at 22 mph.
It’s expected over the next few days that an “erratic” northwestward to west-northwestward direction at a lesser speed will happen across the central Atlantic Basin.