Gabrielle (2019)

A broad area of low pressure that moved off the coast of Africa with a tropical wave developed a well-defined circulation and became Tropical Depression Eight on 3 September 2019 about 395 nautical miles west of the northern Cabo Verde Islands. The system strengthened to Tropical Storm Gabrielle later that day and moved generally northwestward then northward over the central Atlantic. Gabrielle existed from 3–10 September, recurved northeastward into the mid-latitude westerlies on 9 September, and completed its transition to an extratropical low about 425 nautical miles northwest of the western Azores on 10 September; the remnant low dissipated by 11 September.

Gabrielle did not make landfall and produced no coastal watches or warnings. It remained over open ocean for its entire life and did not directly affect land, ships, or populated islands.

The storm’s peak intensity was estimated at 55 knots (about 63 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 995 mb, which corresponds to a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength). Gabrielle reached that peak on 8–9 September while it had a well-defined inner wind core and a radius of maximum winds near 20 nautical miles.

Because Gabrielle stayed over the eastern Atlantic, there were no reported storm surge measurements or notable rainfall totals tied to the cyclone at land locations. No ship reports of tropical-storm-force winds were received.

There were no reported deaths or damage associated with Gabrielle. The primary impacts were limited to the open ocean where satellite data documented its structure and intensity.

Noteworthy aspects include that Gabrielle’s development was well forecast in advance, though official track forecasts had larger-than-average errors because models underestimated how an upper-level low would steer the storm westward at times. Operationally the cyclone was briefly labeled a remnant low on 6 September, but post-analysis found it remained a tropical cyclone during that short convective lull.