Gabrielle Rapidly Intensifies into Category 3 as It Moves Toward Bermuda

Hurricane Gabrielle rapidly intensified into a major hurricane Sunday, reaching Category 3 with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm was located about 180 miles southeast of Bermuda and moving north at 10 mph, forecasters said. The NHC noted that Gabrielle could continue to strengthen as it passes to the east of Bermuda and could reach Category 4 strength with winds near 130 mph; weakening is expected by Wednesday. The system's forecast track keeps it offshore, and landfall is not anticipated for Bermuda, though swells and rough surf are likely to affect the island over the next several days.

Across the Atlantic, swells generated by Gabrielle have already reached the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina to Atlantic Canada and are expected to persist through midweek, bringing life-threatening surf and rip currents to beaches.

In addition to Gabrielle, two other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic bear watching. A tropical wave in the central tropical Atlantic is producing showers and thunderstorms and has a low chance of development over the next two days, but a high chance over the next week as environmental conditions become more favorable; the system is forecast to move west-northwest across the central Atlantic and a tropical depression could form by mid to late week.

A separate tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles is also producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The NHC says the system could slow and turn northwest, with a tropical depression possible over the southwestern Atlantic or near the Bahamas. The probability of development is low over the next two days, with a medium chance of development over the next week.

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season advances, forecasters caution that conditions in the basin remain conducive to development for several areas, underscoring the need for residents from Bermuda to the U.S. East Coast to monitor official forecasts.