Hurricane Gabrielle rapidly intensified to a major hurricane southeast of Bermuda on Monday morning. At 9:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Gabrielle was located at latitude 30.6°N and longitude 62.2°W which put the center about 195 miles (310 km) southeast of Bermuda. Gabrielle was moving toward the north at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 957 mb.
Hurricane Gabrielle rapidly intensified to a major hurricane southeast of Bermuda on Monday morning. A small circular eye formed at the center of Gabrielle’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Gabrielle’s circulation. Storms near the center of Gabrielle generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of large quantities of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.
The circulation around Hurricane Gabrielle became more symmetrical on Monday morning. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Gabrielle’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (220 km) from the center of Hurricane Gabrielle.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Gabrielle was 22.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 9.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 32.0. Hurricane Gabrielle was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Dennis when Dennie hit Northwest Florida in 2005.
Hurricane Gabrielle will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Gabrielle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move in the region between an upper level low south of Bermuda and an upper level trough near the east coast of the U.S. The upper level winds are weak between the upper level low and the upper level trough. So, there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Gabrielle will intensify during the next 24 hours. Gabrielle could continue to intensify rapidly during the next few hours .
Hurricane Gabrielle will move around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Gabrielle toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Gabrielle will pass east of Bermuda later on Monday. Gabrielle could approach the Azores by Thursday evening.
