Tropical Storm Gabrielle forms in the Atlantic

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Gabrielle has officially formed in the central tropical Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Wednesday.

Located about 1,085 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, Gabrielle is moving toward the north-northwest at about 22 mph.

Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph, the NHC said.

A west-northwestward to northwestward motion across the tropical and subtropical central Atlantic is expected over the next few days. There are no coastal warnings or watches in effect.

NHC forecasters said there is some uncertainty in the forecast as Gabrielle's center could be re-forming to the north.

The NHC is also monitoring a tropical wave located a couple hundred miles east-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions of this system are only marginally conducive, and any development of this system should be slow to occur, the NHC said.

The system will move westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central portion of the tropical Atlantic. According to the NHC, regardless of development, this system will bring heavy rain across the Cabo Verde Islands later Wednesday and Thursday.

The chance of formation in the next 48 hours is 10 percent. The chance of formation in the next seven days is 20 percent.