In brief
A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores as Hurricane Gabrielle, classified as a Category 3 storm, continues on a path toward the volcanic archipelago. Forecasters predict significant coastal flooding and damaging waves, with rain accumulations up to 5 inches expected late Thursday into Friday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center advises that life-threatening surf and rip currents could affect Bermuda and parts of the eastern U.S. Meanwhile, Hurricane Narda in the Pacific has strengthened but remains stationary as it moves farther from Mexico.
MIAMI (AP) — A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores as Hurricane Gabrielle churns 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 Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Waves generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward, and the Atlantic coast of Canada, forecasters warned, stating that life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible.
The storm was centered about 1,360 miles (2,189 kilometers) west of the Azores on Wednesday and is expected to cause significant coastal flooding and large, destructive waves. Rainfall amounts may reach up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) across the central and western Azores from Thursday into Friday.
The hurricane warning was issued by the Meteorological Service of Portugal as Gabrielle had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving to the east-northeast.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Narda has strengthened into a Category 2 storm with top winds of about 105 mph (169 kph), moving further offshore from the region.
