Arkansas Storm Team Blog: Tropical Storm Gabrielle forms in the Atlantic

On Wednesday at 10 a.m., September 17, Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed in the tropical Atlantic with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour and a quick north-northwesterly motion. Gabrielle is an odd-looking tropical storm due to wind shear, preventing the system from organizing. It isn’t well organized, it’s elongated on satellite, and its circulation is not centralized within the system. The circulation is oriented north-northwest to south-southeast as of Wednesday morning, but it could reform to the north within the system.

Gabrielle is forecast to remain at a similar strength through the next few days as it continues to battle wind shear. However, by this weekend, Gabrielle is expected to move into a more conducive environment for development. It’s forecast to reach Category 1 hurricane strength by late this weekend.

Current guidance suggests Gabrielle shouldn’t be a direct threat to the Lesser Antilles due to upper-level steering currents. The forecast suggests the Bahamas and the Southeastern U.S. aren’t in Gabrielle’s direct path either, but those in Bermuda should keep an eye on this storm. It is important to note that due to Gabrielle’s center of circulation likely to reform in a different spot within the system in the next few days, the storm’s exact track is subject to change based on that circulation’s position.

Also in the Atlantic, a tropical wave is moving westward near the Cabo Verde Islands. It has a small chance of gradual development in the next 2 to 7 days. Odds of development for this wave look to be better once it moves farther into the central tropical Atlantic. The next name on the Atlantic’s 2025 list is Humberto.

When checking in on the latest forecast in the tropics, it’s critical to receive this information from trusted sources. This means ensuring the information is from a meteorologist, the National Hurricane Center, or a local National Weather Service office. If a social media post seems to cause panic and fear, double-check its information with a trusted source before interacting.