Hurricane Gabrielle was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused nine fatalities in the United States and Canada, despite remaining hundreds of miles offshore.

Due to its large size, Gabrielle produced swells and high tides in the Lesser Antilles, Bermuda, the East Coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada.

Rough seas along the East Coast of the United States caused one fatality in Maine, two in Massachusetts, one in New Jersey, and four in New York.

[1] However, the storm was not operationally upgraded to a hurricane until late on September 2; Gabrielle was then located about 625 miles (1,006 km) west of Cape Verde.

By 1200 UTC on September 2, the storm strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane while centered about halfway between the Leeward Islands and Cape Verde.

[5] The storm passed northeastward of the Leeward Islands and turned northward in response to a weakening in the ridge of high pressure caused by Hurricane Felix.

By early on September 9, Gabrielle began decelerating as it interacted with a frontal trough extending north to south across the western Atlantic Ocean, before becoming stationary about 475 miles (764 km) southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts on the following day.

While being downgraded to a tropical storm, Gabrielle began drifting slowly westward in an area of weak steering well south of the jet stream.

[3] The National Hurricane Center stated in its forecast on September 3 that Gabrielle had a 10 percent chance of affecting the Leeward Islands in three days.

[7] In Bermuda, cruise ships and other water craft were advised of rough seas and many residents rushed to stores to buy emergency supplies.

[8] Although Gabrielle remained far from land throughout its duration, its large size caused swells in the Lesser Antilles, the East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada.

[10][5] Along the East Coast of the United States, rough seas caused one fatality in Maine, two in Massachusetts, one in New Jersey, and four in New York.

[5] In Dominica and Guadeloupe, waves from Gabrielle caused severe beach erosion along the north and east coasts of the island but moderate damage was reported.

[13] Near Boston, Massachusetts, a 25-year-old man was reported missing in the Ipswich River north of Cape Ann after a motorboat capsized in the rough surf; two other occupants including an infant were rescued.

[9] The United States Coast Guard rescued two surfers in New Hampshire, while looking for a swimmer who was reported missing earlier.

In Gill Cove, two men walking near the shore were swept away by a large wave; one made it safely back to the coastline, though the other was lost and subsequently drowned.