An exceptionally long lull in Atlantic storm activity finally came to an end Wednesday as Tropical Storm Gabrielle took shape. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center expect this storm to strengthen into the second hurricane of the season by Sunday.

Gabrielle’s emergence followed 20 days of no named storms in the Atlantic basin—a dry spell that WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry called “unprecedented” for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. As of Friday morning, Gabrielle had maximum sustained wind speeds of 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour). The storm, in the Caribbean Sea, was located about 595 miles (960 kilometers) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

What to expect from Gabrielle this weekend

NHC

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