Additional Coverage:
Hurricane Gabrielle Gains Strength, Azores Braces for Impact
Hurricane Gabrielle, now a Category 3 storm, is churning across the Atlantic and heading towards the Azores, with the potential for significant impact. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for the islands, as Gabrielle packs sustained winds of 115 mph and is predicted to reach the Azores late Thursday. While the storm’s path has shifted away from the U.S., swells generated by Gabrielle are expected to create dangerous surf and rip current conditions along the East Coast from North Carolina northward, as well as in Atlantic Canada, and Bermuda.
While the U.S. mainland appears to be out of Gabrielle’s direct path, two other disturbances in the Atlantic are being closely monitored. One disturbance, located east of the Leeward Islands, has a high probability of developing into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours.
The other, currently in the eastern Caribbean Sea, is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Narda has intensified but remains south of Baja California, with no current coastal warnings in effect.