Hurricane Gabrielle remains a Category 4 hurricane and is moving out into the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.
As of 5 a.m. Sept. 23, the storm is 305 miles east northeast of Bermuda and has sustained winds of 140 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. It’s moving north northeast at 13 mph. Hurricane force winds can be felt 40 miles from the center of the storm and tropical storm winds can be felt 140 miles away from the center of the storm.
Here’s what’s to know about Hurricane Gabrielle.
What is Hurricane Gabrielle’s path?
Gabrielle will move to the northeast toward the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s forecasted to impact Spain and Portugal as a tropical storm on Sunday. It’s not expected to make landfall in the United States.
Hurricane Gabrielle forecasted path
Hurricane Gabrielle spaghetti models
Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.
Will Hurricane Gabrielle impact Delaware?
The storm will not make landfall, but the First State is under a high risk for rip currents.
Swells from Gabrielle are reaching the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward and will continue through the early part this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
What is a rip current?
According to NOAA, rip currents are channeled currents of water that flow away from the shore out past the line of breaking waves. They form from water piling up between the breaking waves and the beach. As the water returns from the shore, it forms a narrow stream of breaking waves. They form from water piling up between the breaking waves and the beach. As the water returns from the shore, it forms a narrow stream of water that moves quickly out to sea.
What to do in a rip current
According to the United States Lifesaving Association, swimmers should do the following:
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Relax, rip currents don’t pull you under.
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Don’t swim against the current.
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You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.
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You may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore.
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If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.
NHC tracking 2 more systems in Atlantic
Topical weather outlook
Gabrielle is not the only tropical activity in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the NHC.
Forecasters said they are also keeping a close eye on tropical waves located in the tropical Atlantic.
Disturbance 1: Shower and thunderstorm activity with a tropical wave is located less than 1,000 miles from the Lesser Antilles. The storm has increased in size and conditions are favorable for it to turn into a tropical depression later this week. There is a 90% chance it will form into a tropical cyclone in the next seven days.
Disturbance 2: A tropical wave is located east of the Leeward Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. A tropical depression could for later this week as it turns northwestward near the Bahamas. The chance of a tropical cyclone forming withing the next seven days is 60%.
When does hurricane season end?
Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. However, hurricanes can occur before and after those dates.
What are the categories for tropical cyclones and hurricanes?
Tropical storm
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with winds between 39 and 73 mph. These storms bring heavy rains that could lead to dangerous flooding.
Category 1
A Category 1 storm is the weakest of the hurricanes with winds between 74 and 95 mph. The storm will cause some flooding, but no real structural damage.
Category 2
A Category 2 storm has winds between 96 and 110 mph. The storm can cause moderate damage to buildings.
Category 3
A Category 3 storm will have winds from 111 to 129 mph. It can cause major damage to well-built framed homes, uproot trees and cause power and communication outages.
Category 4
A Category 4 storm can cause catastrophic damage to well-built framed homes, tearing off roofs and breaking exterior walls. Mobile homes are destroyed. Roads are impassible and there are communication and power outages.
Category 5
A Category 5 storm can cause catastrophic damage with most framed homes and mobile homes being destroyed. Trees will be snapped and uprooted. Roads will be impassible and there will be extended power and communication outages.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Hurricane Gabrielle a Category 4 storm. See spaghetti models, forecast
