Tropical Storm Gabrielle Forms in Central Atlantic, No Threat to Land

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has announced the formation of Tropical Storm Gabrielle over the central Atlantic, but forecasters say the system poses no immediate threat to land.

As of 11 a.m. AST Wednesday, Gabrielle was located near latitude 17.5°N and longitude 46.6°W, roughly 1,085 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. The storm is producing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts, and is moving quickly toward the north-northwest at 22 mph

Meteorologists expect Gabrielle to slow down and adopt a more erratic track toward the northwest or west-northwest over the next several days, remaining over open waters in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic. While the storm is not forecast to strengthen significantly in the short term, gradual intensification is possible over the weekend.

Tropical-storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the storm’s center, mainly on its eastern side.

No coastal watches or warnings have been issued at this time.