Gabrielle is now a powerful Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Hurricane Gabrielle has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm on Monday afternoon.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center has Gabrielle’s sustained winds at 140 miles per hour as it moves north-northeast at 12 miles per hour.

It is passing east of Bermuda, but the island could see dangerous swells leading to life-threatening rip and surf conditions.

Areas along the US East Coast could also see dangerous surf the next few days.

Gabrielle is forecast to weaken later this week as it turns east. The Azores will need to closely monitor the forecast.

Following behind Gabrielle are two tropical waves that could become tropical systems.

The wave in the central Atlantic in red has a high chance for tropical development as it moves northwest over the next day or so.

Environmental conditions are expected to become more favorable, and a tropical depression is likely to form around midweek.

The system may rapidly intensify similarly to Gabrielle as it turns north into a favorable environment.

Impacts to land seem low with this wave, but the other wave ahead of it near the Lesser Antilles is one to watch.

If it stays weaker through late week, it will travel farther west, potentially becoming a threat to the Northern Caribbean, Bahamas, and potentially the eastern US coastline.

A path into the eastern Gulf is possible if it stays weak enough to travel into the western Caribbean.

Individuals with interests in these areas should monitor the forecast through the weekend.

The next names on the list are Humberto and Imelda.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.