Tropical Storm Gabrielle has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters say

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MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean but was far from land, forecasters said.

Gabrielle was centered over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) east of the Northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The “poorly defined” tropical storm was moving to the north-northwest at 22 mph (35 kph), forecasters said.

The weather service predicted little change in strength over the next couple of days but said the storm could intensify over the weekend.

There were no watches or warnings in effect, and no hazards affecting land. Gabrielle was expected to remain over open waters for the next several days.

This year's Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively quiet, with no named storms for about three weeks and only one named hurricane. Experts say there's a few reasons for that, but it doesn't mean dangerous systems won't form later.

The Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.