| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Gert near peak intensity on August 16 | |
| Formed | August 12, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | August 18, 2017 |
| (Extratropical after August 17) | |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 110 mph (175 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 962 mbar (hPa); 28.41 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1 indirect |
| Damage | None |
| Areas affected | East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada |
| Part of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Gert was the second of ten hurricanes during the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. Gert formed from a long-tracked tropical wave late on August 12, and reached its peak four days later over the subtropical western Atlantic. Gert caused two indirect fatalities from rip currents, but the storm itself caused no damage. The extratropical remnants of Gert also caused major flooding in Ireland.
Meteorological History[]
A vigorous tropical wave exited the coast of Africa on August 3. Initially, the wave was expected to rapidly develop over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. However, the wave was unable to organize in an initially favorable environment due to its large size. The wave entered a less conducive for the environment for the next several days as it tracked westward. Convection finally began to increase with the system by August 11 when it passed north of the Leeward Islands, and it finally organized into the eighth tropical depression of the 2017 season by 18:00 UTC on August 12. Six hours later, it strengthened into a tropical storm, although it was not named Gert operationally until 21:00 UTC on August 13.
Initially, mid-level dry air prevented strengthening, with Gert remaining a minimal tropical storm as it moved northwestward for the next 24 hours. Intensification commenced early on August 14 as Gert mixed out the dry air, with Gert developing an eyewall later that same day. Gert strengthened into the second hurricane of the 2017 season by 06:00 UTC on August 15. 24 hours later, Gert strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. The hurricane acquired its peak intensity at 18:00 UTC on August 16 over the northern Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, a minimum pressure of 962 mb, and a visible eye on satellite imagery. Operationally, the storm was assessed to have peaked with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Gert began to weaken shortly afterward as it entered cooler waters and wind shear increased, and Gert weakened into a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC on August 17. Six hours later, Gert transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The extratropical remnants of Gert dissipated at 00:00 UTC on August 19.