Millions of individuals in the United States are facing a severe “danger to life” alert as Hurricane Gabrielle advances towards the East Coast. Meanwhile, the UK is bracing for the repercussions later this week, expecting heavy rain and strong winds.
Hurricane Gabrielle rapidly escalated to a Category 3 hurricane on Monday night, marking it as the second major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, as per the US National Hurricane Center. With sustained winds of 120 km/h, the hurricane is currently positioned southeast of Bermuda. It is anticipated to veer northwards and then northeastwards in the Atlantic over the next few days, potentially posing a threat to beaches along the entire Eastern seaboard of the US.
The National Hurricane Center has cautioned that rapid intensification is projected in the next 24 hours, with Gabrielle likely to become a major hurricane by Monday night.
AccuWeather meteorologists have issued warnings from Maine to Florida about the risk of rough surf and “life-threatening” rip currents along the 2,000-mile stretch of the American coastline as early as Tuesday morning.
Although the UK is not under immediate threat from the hurricane, its remnants could impact the weather towards the end of the week, ushering in unsettled conditions and swells across the Atlantic.
According to the latest tracking data from the US Hurricane Center, Gabrielle is expected to start affecting the UK from Friday onwards.
The UK Met Office forecasts rain arriving on Friday, potentially followed by a spell of unstable weather. Their long-range forecast from September 27 to October 6 suggests a transition from settled conditions to a more unsettled weekend ahead, with rain likely to move from west to east across the country, accompanied by the possibility of strong winds, primarily in western regions.
As the new week unfolds, a return to more stable conditions is expected for many areas, although the northwest may experience intermittent rain and strong winds. Temperatures are anticipated to remain close to average throughout this period.