Hurricane Gabrielle

Hurricane Gabrielle was a strong tropical cyclone that caused widespread destruction and casualties in the Lesser Antilles and Jamaica. The seventh named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the active 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Gabrielle developed from a tropical wave over the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25. Tracking northwestward, Gabrielle gradually strengthened amidst favorable conditions, becoming a hurricane early on August 28. As it neared the Windward Islands, a period of rapid intensification began, bringing the cyclone to major hurricane status at 18:00 UTC that day. After passing over the island of Saint Lucia, Gabrielle continued to intensify, reaching its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) at 06:00 UTC on August 29.