Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Gabrielle is strengthening and expected to reach hurricane status this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update Friday.
Maximum sustained winds were at about 50 mph, with higher gusts, as of the latest update issued at 11 a.m. AST.
The storm is moving at about 12 mph and is expected to continue in a northwest direction through Saturday.
Forecasters earlier in the week called Gabrielle a "poorly organized" Tropical Storm as it continued to form over the Atlantic Ocean.
"A gradual turn towards the north-northwestward is expected by Saturday night, followed by a northward motion by Sunday night," the weather center said in the update.
