Wendy Stancil's emotional description of the new Helen book
Wendy Stancil shows a deep emotion when talking about the book: “Through Our Eyes: A Community’s Photographic Memories of Hurricane Helen.”
- Tropical storm Gabrielle is struggling with wind shears and dry air to prevent it from strengthening.
- Forecasters predict Gabriel will be the second hurricane of the season this weekend or early next week.
- Currently, the storm will bend northward in the Atlantic Ocean and away from the U.S. coastline.
- Even if the storm is always there, it could cause a dangerous tearing current on the East Coast next week.
Forecasters predict that tropical storm Gabrielle will be the second hurricane of the season, but it was in trouble on Thursday, September 18.
As expected, Gabrielle encountered wind shears and dry air, both of which prevented the storm from strengthening. According to the National Hurricane Center, environmental conditions are expected to remain “hostile” for several days, and Gabrielle will “stay stable or lose strength.”
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However, by the end of this weekend or early next week, conditions are expected to favor Gabrielle, which is expected to become more symmetrical and strengthen the hurricane.
Gabrielle is the seventh storm in the Atlantic hurricane season of 2025 and the first tropical storm since its inception on August 23.
If it does become a hurricane, it will be just the second hurricane of the season.
Erin became the first hurricane of the season a month ago (August 15) and quickly joined a major hurricane, with peak winds peaking the next day at 160 mph.
Highlights about what Tropical Storm Gabrielle is doing now
Special notes for NHC cones: The predicted track shows the most likely path to the center of the storm. It does not indicate the full width or impact of the storm, and the center of the storm is likely to travel 33% outside the cone.
- Place: 845 miles east of the island to the north; 1,938 miles east of West Palm Beach
- Maximum sustained wind: 50 mph
- move: 15 mph Northwest Northwest
- pressure: 1,004 MB
Will Tropical Storm Gabriel become a hurricane?
At 5 a.m., the center of tropical storm Gabrielle is located at 20.0 north latitude and has a longitude of 50.3 west.
Gabrielle is heading towards Northwest Airlines at 15 mph. Northwest or Northwest movement is expected to take place in the next few days.
The maximum sustained wind is kept at 50 mph and close to 50 mph, with high gusts.
The intensity changes are expected to be small over the next 48 hours, but the forecast has undergone some gradual reinforcement later in the weekend.
The wind in the tropical wind extends outward to 240 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 MB.
Will Tropical Storm Gabriel affect North Carolina? See the path
This is not yet clear, although current forecasts continue to predict Gabrielle will bend the northern Atlantic Ocean and away from North Carolina and the United States.
Gabrielle “This afternoon on the satellite, it’s not a fight against dry and dusty air,” Fox weather meteorologist Ian Oliver said via email on September 17.
“However, conditions will become increasingly favorable and Gabriel is expected to be a hurricane near Bermuda or somewhere in the east early next week.”
“I think if the storm can strengthen the hurricane we currently expect, we can go through next week, in the middle to the next week, along the East Coast with certain beach issues. From Florida to New England, that's anywhere until New England,” Accuweather hurricane expert Alex Dasilva said via email No. 17 Alex Dasilva.
“This is something we have to pay attention to. If the storm remains relatively weak and if it never encounters a hurricane, then we may not have any beach danger, but if it does exacerbate north of the Caribbean and become a hurricane, we do have to worry about the current risk of RIP along the East Coast next week.
“It could be a beautiful sunny day on the beach, but even with hurricanes millions of miles away, we can still see the problem in the tearing current,” Da Silva said.
Residents in Bermuda are advised to pay close attention to the system.
Pasta model from tropical storm Gabrielle
Special notes on pasta models: Pasta model illustrations include a range of prediction tools and models instead of all creating equality. Hurricane Center uses only the first four or five highest models to help with predictions.
What tropical waves are there in the Atlantic Basin now?
Tropical waves in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean:
- Constitute the opportunity to 48 hours: low, 10%.
- Formation opportunity to 7 days: low, 20%.
Other tropical waves monitored by the National Hurricane Center:
one Western Caribbean The tropical wave to the south from 21N is nearly 87W and moves westward by about 11 miles per hour. On the 80W bay of Honduras, western Honduras and the Caribbean waters, there are plenty of tropical moisture, scattered showers and isolated intense thunderstorms.
one Far East and Atlantic Ocean The tropical wave is close to the Cabo Verde Islands southward 19n, moving about 17 miles per hour westward. Between 25W and 29W, convection is performed at the scattering center of 14N to 17N.
one Eastern Caribbean The tropical wave is close to 69W, spanning the eastern part of the Spanish island from 22N south to northwest of Venezuela, moving westward at a speed of 17 to 23 mph. Scattered moderate convection occurs in Hispanic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and nearby waters.
Will Hurricane Gabriel form in the Atlantic Ocean? Hurricane Tracker
Hurricane season will rise in late September
Although the basin has been quiet (even at climate peaks, officials warn that activity may increase as inhibitors such as dry air and wind shears begin to fade away.
Special attention is the storm close to the United States. With tropical waves rolling in and giving forecasters a track of the day, systems developed around the Gulf, the Caribbean or the southeast coast can attract residents in very little time to prepare.
Accuweather forecasters say these “local” storms can also rapidly intensify in the very warm waters of the bay.
Is there a hurricane coming to North Carolina?
No. Tropical storm Gabrielle is currently the only Atlantic storm.
However, conditions may change rapidly, and forecasters warn residents not to be complacent and always be prepared.
How does the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season compare to North Carolina’s last year?
For North Carolina, the season has maintained a similar pattern to 2024 so far, although Hurricane Irene has had some significant impact on Outshore Banks.
In early August last year, tropical storm Debby made heavy rains, tropical storms, gusts, minor coastal flooding and three weak tornadoes landed in southeastern North Carolina on August 5, 2024 in the Great Bend area of Florida, before landing on the second landing area of Bulls Bay Bay, South Carolina, and George.
By late September, the state tracked tropical storm Helene, which caused flash flooding, landslides and hundreds of people after Appalachians moved.
So far, no storms have directly affected the state, but one of the highest chances of North Carolina’s impacts is the impact of a hurricane or named storm this season, second only to Florida.
When will the Atlantic hurricane season end in North Carolina?
The Atlantic hurricane season is held from June 1 to November 30.
NOAA said that during this time, 97 percent of tropical cyclone activity was active.
The Atlantic Basin includes the North Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Gulf of the United States, because it is now known in the Gulf of Mexico under the orders of President Donald Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center now use the U.S. Gulf in its maps and consultations.
According to the Hurricane Center, the peak of this season is September 10, with the most active events occurring between mid-August and mid-October.
Prepare for a hurricane now
Delaying potentially life-saving preparations can mean it’s too late. NOAA advises: “Access disaster supplies while the shelves are still in stock and conduct insurance inspections as early as possible, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.”
- Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk of a hurricane, you need a evacuation plan. Now it’s time to start planning where to go and how to get there.
- Assembly disaster supply: Whether you are evacuating or sheltering in place, you will need not only supply, not only through the storm, but also long consequences, Noaa said.
- Get insurance checks and record your property: Contact your insurance company or agent immediately and request an insurance check to make sure you have sufficient insurance to repair or even replace the home and/or items. Remember that home and tenant insurance cannot cover flooding, so you need a separate policy. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent or national flood insurance plan. Take action immediately, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
- Develop a family communication plan: NOAA says, take the time to write down your hurricane plan and share it with your family. Identify family gathering places and make sure to include an out-of-town area during evacuation.
- Strengthen your home: It’s time to improve the ability of homes to withstand hurricane effects. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters and/or impact glass; seal exterior wall openings.
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Brandi D. Addison covers the weather throughout the United States because the weather connects journalists on the USA Today network. She can be contacted at [email protected].