Gabrielle has strengthened into the second major hurricane of the season as it approached Bermuda early this week. Additional tropical activity in the Atlantic is likely to increase soon, according to AccuWeather meteorologists, with at least one of the next two developing systems posing a threat to the United States.

Gabrielle rapidly strengthened from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, going from a 65-mph tropical storm at 11 a.m. EDT on Sunday to a Category 3 Hurricane 22 hours later, a 55-mph increase in wind intensity. A hurricane is said to undergo rapid strengthening when the central winds in the storm increase by at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less. As of 5 p.m., Gabrielle had increased to a 140-mph Category 4 hurricane.

Earlier this season, Erin's increase in wind intensity f

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