Tropical Storm Gabrielle was spinning over the Central Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Gabrielle was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 52.7°W which put the center about 700 miles (1125 km) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands.  Gabrielle was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.

The appearance of Tropical Storm Gabrielle did not change much on Thursday.  Gabrielle consisted of bands of showers and low clouds revolving around the center of circulation for much of Thursday.  New thunderstorms began to develop late Thursday afternoon in bands northeast of the center of Gabrielle’s circulation.  The bands in the other parts of Tropical Storm Gabrielle still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Gabrielle was very asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 290 miles (465 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Gabrielle’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) in the southeastern and northwestern quadrants of Gabrielle.  The winds in the southwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Gabrielle were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle will move through an environment that will be only marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gabrielle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  However, an upper level low that is northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands will produce strong southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gabrielle’s circulation.  Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear.  The strong vertical wind shear will prevent significant intensification during the next 24 hours.  The wind shear is forecast to decrease during the weekend and Tropical Storm Gabrielle is likely to intensify when the shear decreases.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle will move around the southwestern part of a subtropical high pressure system over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Gabrielle toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Gabrielle will pass northeast of the Leeward Islands on Friday night.