MIAMI — Tropical Storm Gabrielle strengthened in Atlantic waters southeast of Bermuda on Sunday and was close to becoming a hurricane, forecasters said.

Gabrielle had maximum sustained winds of 65 m.p.h. (100 km/h) and was less than 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h) shy of hurricane strength as meteorologists warned the storm could rapidly intensify in coming hours.

The storm was centred Sunday afternoon about 390 miles (630 kilometres) southeast of Bermuda and was moving to the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It said rapid strengthening could come over the next day or two.

On the current forecast track, Gabrielle was expected to pass east of Bermuda on Monday. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect, but meteorologists urged interests in Bermuda to

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