Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Atlantic islands of Bermuda and Azores are being told to monitor now category 4 Hurricane Gabrielle. The storm gained additional strength Monday afternoon as predicted, now traveling Atlantic waters with a substantial punch.
While the hurricane is not forecast to directly impact any of the islands, sea swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. According to the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA), Gabrielle is now a category 4 hurricane.
Gabrielle is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h), a general motion is expected tonight, followed by a faster northeastward or east- northeastward motion on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Gabrielle is expected to pass east of Bermuda tonight.
“NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft and satellite data indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher gusts. Gabrielle is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little significant change in strength is forecast tonight, followed by a gradual weakening on Tuesday and Wednesday,” they reported Monday afternoon.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The NOAA says swells generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda and the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada.
While there are still no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the NOAA says interests in the Azores in the mid-Atlantic off Portugal should monitor the progress of Gabrielle.
