A large, but previously poorly organized tropical wave was upgraded to Tropical Depression 7 early this morning and Tropical Storm Gabrielle by late morning. This ended a rare nearly three week stretch from late August to mid-September of no tropical activity in the Atlantic basin.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle officially developed Wednesday morning as it moves north-northwest through the ocean.

If it does become a hurricane, it'll be only the second of the Atlantic hurricane season, following Erin, which became a hurricane in the central Atlantic just over a month ago, on Aug. 15.