Hurricane Gabrielle under Azores hurricane warning; threatens Azores and raises life‑threatening surf risk for U.S. East Coast
Hurricane Gabrielle — which rapidly intensified over the Atlantic and at one point reached major‑hurricane strength — has prompted a formal hurricane warning for the Azores as forecasts show it approaching the islands late this week with damaging winds and as much as 5 inches (13 cm) of rain. Swells from Gabrielle are already impacting Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast north of North Carolina (and Atlantic Canada), producing life‑threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.
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Humberto becomes a hurricane in the Atlantic as Gabrielle moves away from the Azores
New information:
- Gabrielle has transitioned to a post‑tropical cyclone and is moving away from the Azores; the Azores Meteorological Service discontinued the hurricane warning for the archipelago.
- Article gives Gabrielle's midday position (about 255 miles east‑northeast of Faial Island) and notes maximum sustained winds near 65 mph with higher gusts, and that tropical‑storm‑force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
- Forecast that Gabrielle should begin gradual weakening on Saturday but swells from the system are expected to produce life‑threatening surf and rip currents reaching Portugal, northwestern Spain and northern Morocco.
Azores under hurricane warning as Gabrielle races toward island chain
New information:
- Meteorological Service of Portugal has issued a formal hurricane warning for the Azores.
- As of the advisory, Gabrielle was centered about 1,200 miles west of the Azores with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) and moving east‑northeast at 25 mph (40 kph).
- Forecast now calls for Gabrielle to approach the Azores late Thursday and potentially bring up to 5 inches (13 cm) of rain across the central and western Azores.
- Swells from Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward, and Atlantic Canada, with life‑threatening surf and rip currents possible.
Gabrielle is now a Category 4 hurricane. Forecasters advise Azores to take notice
New information:
- Gabrielle strengthened to Category 4 with 140 mph sustained winds Monday afternoon.
- Storm position: about 180 miles from Bermuda, moving north‑northeast at 12 mph.
- NHC says little change in strength Monday night, then gradual weakening Tuesday and Wednesday with increasing forward speed.
- System could approach the Azores by the end of the week.
- Swells already impacting Bermuda and producing life‑threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward.
Hurricane Gabrielle rapidly intensifies into a Category 3 storm in the Atlantic, is staying away from land
New information:
- Gabrielle intensified to a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph sustained winds, per NHC.
- At 10 a.m. EDT Monday, the center was about 195 miles southeast of Bermuda, moving north at ~10 mph and tracking east of Bermuda.
- Swells from Gabrielle are impacting Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward to Canada, posing life‑threatening surf and rip current conditions.
- In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Narda formed off Mexico (about 160 miles south of Zihuatanejo) and is forecast to become a hurricane Tuesday; no current land threat.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle expected to become 2nd Atlantic hurricane of the season
New information:
- NHC 5 p.m. ET update: Gabrielle at 65 mph, moving NW, about 580 miles SE of Bermuda.
- Expected to become a hurricane as soon as Saturday night and could reach 105 mph (Category 2), per NWS forecaster David Roth.
- Forecast to pass east of Bermuda Sunday night or Monday; a direct hit is not expected.
- Life-threatening swells and rip currents possible: higher waves in Bermuda by Tuesday and swells reaching the U.S. East Coast north of North Carolina.
- Post-Bermuda track curves northeast toward the Azores.
- If it becomes a hurricane, it would be the Atlantic’s second of the season, nearly a month later than the typical Aug. 26 timing for the second hurricane.
Maps show the forecast track of Tropical Storm Gabrielle
New information:
- NHC advisory: Gabrielle formed Wednesday with 45 mph winds and a poorly defined center
- Location/motion: ~1,000 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands; moving NW at 22 mph
- Wind field: Tropical-storm-force winds extend ~175 miles from the center
- Outlook: Expected to stay over open water; could reach hurricane strength (~85 mph) and near Bermuda next week; forecast uncertainty remains high