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 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. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Narda strengthened Tuesday into a Category 2 storm while continuing to move away from Mexico, forecasters remarked.
At present, the Northern Atlantic storm is centered about 1,360 miles (2,189 kilometers) west of the Azores.
Forecasters predict significant coastal flooding and large, destructive waves due to Gabrielle. From Thursday into Friday, the storm may bring \u201cup to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain across the central and western Azores.
The hurricane warning was issued by the Meteorological Service of Portugal, as Gabrielle had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was traveling east-northeast. Narda, meanwhile, had top sustained winds of approximately 105 mph (169 kph) and was located about 540 miles (869 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, moving further offshore without any coastal watches or warnings in effect.
