In brief
Hurricane Gabrielle has prompted a hurricane warning for the Azores, with expectations of dangerous weather conditions from late Thursday into Friday. Although the storm is forecast to weaken, it could still deliver up to 5 inches of rain accompanied by high waves. Meanwhile, Hurricane Narda is developing in the Pacific but poses no immediate threat to land.
MIAMI (AP) — A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores as Hurricane Gabrielle churned Wednesday across open Atlantic waters on track for the volcanic archipelago, forecasters said.
The Category 3 storm is forecast to weaken but still approach the Azores late Thursday as a hurricane, with dangerous conditions likely Thursday night and Friday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Waves generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward and the Atlantic coast of Canada. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible.
Currently, Gabrielle is centered approximately 1,360 miles (2,189 kilometers) west of the Azores archipelago. The storm is causing concerns over significant coastal flooding, destructive waves, and rainfall amounts between 1 to 5 inches (2.5 to 13 centimeters) across the central and western Azores.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Narda has developed into a Category 2 storm, moving away from Mexico with maximum sustained winds of about 105 mph (169 kph). While Narda poses no immediate threat, authorities continue to monitor its progress.
For now, the hurricane warning for Gabrielle has been issued by the Meteorological Service of Portugal, as storm conditions are likely to escalate.
