Ponta Delgada, Azores
Hurricane warnings have been issued for the Azores as Hurricane Gabriel, a significant Category 3 storm, heads across the Atlantic towards the islands and European coastlines.
The Azores, located roughly 850 miles from Portugal’s coast, is being closely monitored by meteorologists as the hurricane approaches the North Atlantic archipelago. Residents should stay alert for updates as intense weather is expected.
Starting Thursday night into Friday morning, the region will likely experience heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous storm surges, according to forecasts.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is also keeping an eye on two other disturbances in the Atlantic that may develop in the coming days.
After a few weeks of relative calm, the rise in tropical activity is occurring as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season nears its conclusion.
As of the NHC’s latest report, Hurricane Gabriel has maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, categorizing it as a strong Category 3 hurricane. Although a gradual weakening is anticipated, it’s still expected to maintain hurricane status while passing near the Azores.
Currently, Gabriel is situated about 1,285 miles west of the Azores and is moving at a speed of 25 mph to the east-northeast.
This trajectory should persist over the following days, with the storm possibly accelerating.
According to the forecast track, the core of Hurricane Gabriel is projected to approach the Azores on Thursday and pass through the island chain that night and into Friday.
The NHC has alerted that hazardous storm surges could lead to significant coastal flooding in areas where winds blow onshore.
The impending storm surge will likely come with powerful, damaging waves.
Moreover, the Azores could see rainfall totals exceeding 3-5 inches, primarily affecting the central and western islands.
In the eastern Azores, outer bands of the storm may bring an additional 1-2 inches of rain.
Hurricane Gabriel’s swells are expected to impact the US East Coast, particularly from Bermuda to northern North Carolina and parts of Atlantic Canada over the next few days, creating potentially dangerous surf conditions at local beaches.
