Gabrielle strengthens to a major hurricane, dangerous swells hit Atlantic Canada
Hurricane Gabrielle's rip currents pose a hazard in Atlantic Canada
Hurricane Gabrielle developed in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, marking the second hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
By Monday morning, Gabrielle gained major hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h. The storm was moving swiftly southeast of Bermuda.
DON’T MISS: Study urges forecasters to adopt new hurricane intensity scale
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Gabrielle is expected to maintain its general motion through Monday, followed by a faster northeastward or east-northeastward track on Tuesday.
Based on the current forecast trajectory, the centre of Gabrielle is anticipated to pass east of Bermuda Monday night. Further intensification to a Category 4 storm is possible on Monday before some weakening, which is projected to begin by Wednesday.
Swells from Hurricane Gabrielle to impact Bermuda, U.S. East Coast, and Atlantic Canada
Swells produced by Hurricane Gabrielle will continue to impact Bermuda over the next few days. These swells have also begun reaching the east coast of the United States, from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada.
These conditions are expected to persist through the early part of this week and are likely to generate life-threatening surf and rip currents, the NHC warns.
Rip currents pull away from the beach directly out to sea. These deadly hazards can pose a threat to even an experienced swimmer. Stay out of the water if rip currents are possible.
If you’re ever caught in a rip current and you can’t swim, don’t panic. Calmly signal for help and tread water until assistance arrives. Folks experienced in swimming should swim parallel to the beach until out of the rip current, then swim directly back to shore.
Gabrielle is the second major hurricane to form in the Atlantic basin during the 2025 season. It follows Hurricane Erin, which developed last month. Erin reached Category 5 status, becoming the second most intense hurricane globally so far this year.
MUST SEE: What does a hurricane's ‘cone of uncertainty’ mean?
In the wake of Hurricane Gabrielle, forecasters are keeping a close eye on two areas with potential for tropical development in the next seven days.
These systems could contribute to continued activity in the Atlantic basin.