It reached a peak wind speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) by September 15 over the open central Atlantic east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.

It gradually curved to the northwest and later to the north, due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge created by Hurricane Floyd.

It turned to the northeast, and on September 23, Gert transitioned into an extratropical cyclone to the southeast of Atlantic Canada before being absorbed by a larger storm.

Although Gert's center did not make landfall, it passed a short distance east of the island, producing hurricane-force winds that left 11,000 people without power.

Based on satellite imagery, it is estimated the system organized into Tropical Depression Nine by 1200 UTC on September 11 to the south of the Cape Verde islands.

[3] After becoming a tropical storm, Gert quickly intensified due to the presence of an anticyclone aloft,[4] as well as warm water temperatures exceeding 84 °F (29 °C).

[1] Still moving west-northwestward, Gert continued its steady intensification trend, developing well-defined outflow throughout the circulation that was described as "outstanding".

[10] Gradually Gert turned toward the northwest due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge, created by Hurricane Floyd to the west.

As it did so, the hurricane re-intensified briefly before resuming a weakening trend,[1] due to increased wind shear and an upper-level trough to its west restricting outflow.

[11] After weakening to winds of 120 mph (190 km/h), Gert again re-strengthened to Category 4 status on September 19,[1] as the eye became well-organized within its surrounding convection following an eyewall replacement cycle.

[14] The convection decreased around the center due to cooler water temperatures,[15] and on September 23 Gert weakened to tropical storm status as it approached Newfoundland.

[18] As Gert was several days away from Bermuda, the NHC advised residents there to monitor the progress of the storm,[19] Due to uncertainties in the future forecast, as well as the size and strength of Gert, a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch was issued for the island on September 19, about two days prior to its closest approach.

[23] On September 20, Hurricane Gert was attributed to generating a rogue wave that swept two people out to sea at Acadia National Park along the coast of Maine.