Tropical Storm Gabrielle is "struggling" to better organize as it spins across the central Atlantic, but forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) say it's still forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by early next week.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle, which had been known as Invest 92L and then Tropical Depression Seven, formed on Wednesday after a weekslong lull in tropical activity as we continue through the latter half of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

"Gabrielle continues to struggle and consists of a swirl of low-level clouds with patches of deep convection over the northeast and southeast quadrants of the storm," the NHC said in its latest discussion. "The poor structure is due to westerly vertical wind shear and a significant amount of dry air that is continuously entraining into the circulation."

The NHC said that atmospheric conditions are expected to remain hostile for further development over the next few days, and Tropical Storm Gabrielle could either "hold steady or lose strength during that time," the NHC continued.

As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Tropical Storm Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with some higher gusts.

Little change in strength is expected, but gradual intensification is expected over the weekend.

As of Thursday, the NHC said Gabrielle could become a Category 1 hurricane by Monday.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle is currently located less than 850 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving off to the west-northwest at 15 mph.

The NHC said a west-northwest or northwestward motion is expected over the next few days.

Currently, direct impacts aren't expected in the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. East Coast. However, Bermuda should monitor the forecast for potential impacts.

An area to watch for possible tropical development west of the Cabo Verde Islands is continuing to produce disorganized shower activity, but the NHC is now saying development of the system is no longer expected as it moves westward over the eastern and central Atlantic.

However, a new tropical wave is expected to move off the western coast of Africa by Friday morning.

The NHC said some slow development of the system is possible over the weekend through the middle of next week while it moves to the west-northwest across the eastern and central Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle 'struggling' over Atlantic but forecast to...