Tropical Storm Gabrielle to pass east of Bermuda

Published on Sep 20, 2025, 6:54 pm CDT

5 min read

Tropical Storm Gabrielle is forecast to strengthen and pass well east of Bermuda from Sunday night, September 21, into Monday, September 22. Forecasters expect hazardous swells, choppy seas, and a few showers as the storm makes its closest approach, while the island remains outside the core winds. Officials say no island-wide closures are anticipated at this time, though travelers should plan for possible airline delays at L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) and cruise call adjustments at Royal Naval Dockyard.

Key Points

Why it matters: Rough seas and rip currents are likely, with sporadic flight or cruise timing changes possible.
Travel impact: Expect building swells Sunday into Monday and a few passing showers; strongest winds stay well east.
What's next: NHC guidance indicates intensification, with the center tracking east of Bermuda through Monday morning.
Airline watch: Minor schedule padding or delays are possible as carriers navigate gusts and rain bands.
Cruise calls: Lines may shave call times or swap itineraries to avoid rough berthing or tendering windows.

Snapshot

As of Saturday, September 20, guidance from the National Hurricane Center and Bermuda Weather Service keeps Gabrielle's track safely to the distant east, with the closest approach projected Monday morning. Marine hazards, including long-period swells, rough near-shore seas, and rip currents, are the primary concerns. The Emergency Measures Organisation says Bermuda is open for business, and no closures are expected. Travelers should monitor flight status for potential delays at BDA, and cruise guests should watch for revised arrival or departure times at Royal Naval Dockyard. Continue to follow official forecasts and heed local advisories as conditions evolve into Monday.

Background

Bermuda frequently experiences hazardous surf when tropical systems pass well offshore, especially on easterly tracks that keep the strongest winds to the storm's right-front quadrant away from the island. Even without direct landfall, long-period swells can build quickly, complicating port operations, ferry service, and near-shore activities. The NHC highlights life-threatening surf and rip currents with Gabrielle's swell field, reaching Bermuda first, then the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada later in the period. Locally, the Bermuda Weather Service expects strengthening easterlies, a few bands of showers, and seas becoming rough Sunday into Monday, with the core winds displaced well to the east. These patterns typically translate to manageable aviation operations with occasional delays, and cruise lines may adjust call windows to berth during calmer periods.

Latest Developments

Track holds east of the island, swells build Sunday into Monday

NHC advisories continue to show Gabrielle strengthening, with tropical-storm-force winds extending mainly east of the center and a closest approach well offshore. Bermuda should see surf increase through Sunday, with rough seas and rip currents into Monday, while showers brush the island in outer bands. Local forecasters emphasize that the primary hazard is marine, not widespread damaging wind. Continue to avoid hazardous shorelines during high surf, and follow any beach safety guidance.

Officials: no closures expected, "open for business as usual"

The Government of Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organisation reports no disruptions anticipated from Gabrielle based on current projections, noting the storm will pass well to the east early Monday. Local media summaries echo that forecast, quoting BWS updates that put the closest point of approach hundreds of miles offshore. Authorities will update the public if the track or intensity changes.

Cruises and flights: light operational tweaks possible

Cruise lines have begun fine-tuning call windows on some itineraries when needed to avoid the worst seas, and guests should keep an eye on line apps and emails for any time shaves or swaps at Royal Naval Dockyard. At the airport, routine weather monitoring continues, and passengers should check airline messages and the airport's flight-information pages for any delays or rebooking options.

Analysis

For travelers, the setup points to a mostly marine-driven event. The combination of increasing easterlies and long-period swell makes small-craft operations and exposed shorelines the most sensitive areas, while core gale or hurricane conditions remain well east. That risk profile aligns with manageable aviation impacts, though scattered delays are plausible if bands lower ceilings or visibility during arrival banks. On the cruise side, lines typically prefer wider weather margins for berthing and gangway operations, so brief arrival delays or earlier departures may appear on schedules to catch calmer tide and wind windows. If you hold Sunday or Monday bookings, build flexibility into plans.

Rebooking playbook for flights:

Proactively enroll in airline alerts, then re-shop the same routing plus nearby gateways if a delay would break connections.
If a waiver posts, change online to a same-day or next-day option that preserves your connection cushion.
Keep the original ticket open until the replacement is confirmed, and screenshot any fee-waiver language shown during checkout.

Cruise adjustments checklist:

Watch for revised all-aboard times, shortened call windows, or a swap to a sea day.
Reserve ship-sponsored shore excursions last-minute if timing shifts, since the line will handle refunds automatically when it cancels.
If docking is marginal, expect pier operations to run slower for safety, and plan accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Bermuda appears set for a glancing blow, with the greatest hazards in the surf zone and on exposed waters as Gabrielle slides by to the distant east. Keep beach plans conservative, check ferry and port notices, and give yourself extra time for flights in case a passing band slows operations. Monitor official updates through Monday morning, then expect seas to gradually ease. With prudent planning and flexible timing, most trips should proceed with minimal disruption as the island rides out the swells from Tropical Storm Gabrielle Bermuda.