A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores as Gabrielle, a powerful Category 3 hurricane, moves across the Atlantic towards the islands and towards the European coast.
The Azoreslocated about 1,370 kilometers from Portugal, will receive hurricane conditions with torrential rains, strong winds and dangerous storm surge between Thursday night and Friday morning.
According to the latest report of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Gabrielle has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (185 mph). Although a progressive weakening is expected over the next few days, the system will remain a hurricane as it crosses the islands. It is currently located about 2,070 km west of the archipelago and is moving east-northeast at 40 km/h.
The forecast indicates that the center of Gabrielle will approach the Azores during Thursday and cross the archipelago between the night and Friday. The storm surge will produce significant coastal flooding in areas with onshore winds, accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Rainfall accumulations of 75 to 125 mm are expected over much of the central and western Azores, with outer bands leaving between 25 and 50 mm in the eastern sector.
The swell generated by Gabrielle will also affect Bermuda, the east coast of the United States - from North Carolina northward - and Atlantic Canada over the next few days, causing dangerous undertows and rip currents.
