Hurricane Gabrielle (2025)

Hurricane Gabrielle, known as Storm Gabrielle while extratropical, was a powerful tropical cyclone that threatened Bermuda, and later affected the Azores as a post-tropical cyclone in September 2025. The seventh named storm, second hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, Gabrielle formed from a long-tracked tropical wave in the central Atlantic on 17 September. Due to dry air and wind shear that had stifled its development, the system was initially disorganized with an ill-defined center.^[1][2] These same factors prevented further organization for multiple days following its formation.^[3] Gabrielle intensified into a hurricane on 21 September as conditions became much more favorable, before it rapidly intensified the following day, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane east of Bermuda. After maintaining for a day, increasingly hostile factors such as dry air and wind shear caused weakening to commence, weakening to a tropical storm just west of the Azores early on 25 September, becoming extratropical later that day as it passed over the island chain. The remnants of Gabrielle gradually spun down until moving ashore on the Iberian Peninsula on 28 September, dissipating later that day.

Although Gabrielle did not affect Bermuda directly, high swells produced by the hurricane still affected the islands as well as the East Coast of the United States. A hurricane warning was issued in advance of the storm in the Azores and multiple flights halted as a result, even though Gabrielle ultimately passed through as an extratropical cyclone. According to Aon, damage from the storm totaled to more than US$11 million.^[4]

On 12 September, a tropical wave moved off of the continent of Africa. The wave remained disorganized until 14 September, when the southern portion of the wave began organizing halfway between Africa and the Leeward Islands. Per scatterometer data, the wave attained gale-force winds on 16 September. On 17 September, the southern portion of the wave attempted to organize, but failed. An upper-level trough would then incite deep convection in the northern portion of the wave, where it would become Tropical Storm Gabrielle at 18:00 UTC later that day. Gabrielle initially struggled to become better organized due to high wind shear. At the time, the storm was being steered west-northwestward by a subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic. Wind shear subsided on 19 September, allowing for some intensification, still somewhat inhibited by dry air intruding. Convection also improved on the night of 19 September. On 20 September, Gabrielle encountered warmer sea surface temperatures, also aiding in intensification. On 21 September, an inner core formed and mid-level conditions became more humid, allowing for rapid intensification.^[5]

Gabrielle strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane that afternoon, and within 24 hours rapidly intensified to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h).^[6][7] By the afternoon of 22 September, Hurricane Hunter aircraft reconnaissance found that Gabrielle had continued to intensify, attaining Category 4 status about 180 mi (290 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.^[8] Gabrielle's sustained winds remained at that intensity into the morning of 23 September, while it turned east-northeastward.^[9] Slowly increasing wind shear caused the system to weaken below major hurricane status in the following morning.^[10][11] The system then weakened further over cooler waters as Gabrielle's intensity dropped to a Category 1 early on 25 September.^[12][13] Most of its deep convection collapsed as further weakening occurred that afternoon while Gabrielle approached the Azores.^[14] Gabrielle lost tropical characteristics and dropped below hurricane intensity later that day as it no longer had any deep convection and its low-level center became partially exposed.^[15] Gabrielle's center moved over the Azores early on 26 September, as tropical-storm-force winds were recorded on multiple islands.^[16] It was noted during this time that some deep convection redeveloped northeast of its center, likely due to an occluded frontal boundary nearby.^[17] Gabrielle finished its extratropical transition that afternoon while moving away from the Azores.^[18]

The Bermuda Weather Service issued a small craft warning during the passage of Gabrielle.^[19] Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States northward of North Carolina experienced rough seas and heightened rip current risks as a result of Gabrielle.^[20][21] Red flags were raised to indicate dangerous conditions in Bermuda.^[22][23]

A hurricane watch was issued for the Azores on 22 September, which was later upgraded to a warning on the 24 September.^[24][20] The IPMA issued orange and yellow alerts for all of the Azores. Flores and Corvo were placed under a red alert for precipitation. Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, and Graciosa were placed under a red alert for wind and rough seas.^[25] Orange alerts were eventually issued for the eastern islands.^[26] Schools and government buildings in the central and western Azores were closed for Gabrielle.^[27] Ports in Madalena, Lajes, and Horta were closed.^[28] The Regional Civil Protection Service organized rescue teams, medical units, and supplies in high-risk communities.^[29]

Flight plans were interrupted from 25 to 27 September in the Azores.^[30] Azores Airlines cancelled flights from Ponta Delgada to Terceira and Lisbon.^[31]

Overall, Gabrielle inflicted generally minor damage in the Azores.^[32] Serra de Santa Bárbara, located in the mountains of Terceira Island, reported wind gusts of 115 mph (185 km/h).^[16] Sustained winds on Pico dos Santos de Cima, on São Miguel, reported sustained winds of 78 mph (125 km/h).^[33] The highest rate of rainfall was recorded of Graciosa at 21 millimeters (0.83 in) per hour, totaling 60.9 millimetres (2.40 in) throughout.^[5][34] Waves attained heights of 10 to 18 meters (33 to 59 ft).^[35] Across the islands, trees fell, structures collapsed, and roofs were damaged.^[36][37] Sixteen people were displaced due to Gabrielle including four on São Jorge, three on Faial, and one on Graciosa.^[38][37][39] An aerodrome on Graciosa was damaged, inhibiting flights.^[40]

Strong winds from Gabrielle increased the wildfire risk in Iberia.^[39] Gabrielle brought windy and rainy conditions to the Iberian Peninsula. The south coast of the United Kingdom was plagued by rough seas.^[41] Severe flooding occurred on Ibiza, triggered by the remnants of Gabrielle fused with another mid-latitude cyclone.^[5] Red flags were flown on Ibiza's beaches.^[42] Those remnants would go on to cause flooding in Marche and Sicily, leaving one person missing and homes damaged.^[4] Losses totaled to more than €10 million (US$11.7 million) in damage according to Aon.^[4]

• List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
• Weather of 2025
• Tropical cyclones in 2025
• Timeline of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season
• Other storms named Gabrielle
• List of Azores hurricanes

• Media related to Hurricane Gabrielle (2025) at Wikimedia Commons