Ex-Hurricane Gabrielle could reach mainland Portugal as a depression next weekend
Meteored predicts that the Azores archipelago will be affected next Friday, September 26, by a cyclonic system currently known as Gabrielle, a Category 1 hurricane. By the time it reaches the Azores islands, this system may be transitioning into a subtropical storm.
Alfredo Graça, geographer and editor-in-chief of Meteored Portugal, explains that there is still some uncertainty regarding the islands potentially most affected by Gabrielle, as well as the magnitude of its impact.
Maps predict that, in terms of rainfall, the Western Group will be the most affected, with values close to 130 mm of accumulated precipitation expected on the island of Flores. On the remaining islands, accumulated rainfall will be substantially less, but still in quite significant amounts (generally between 15 and 30 mm). Thunderstorms may appear across the Azores islands, but for now, the probability is highest in the Central Group.
As for the wind, the Western and Central Groups will be the most affected, with gusts that can reach 150 km/h, especially on the island of Flores.
According to Alfredo Graça, Gabrielle is guaranteed not to reach mainland Portugal as a hurricane. However, it's possible it will arrive more like a typical Atlantic depression, with impacts on the weather starting next Sunday. "It's very likely that this system could generate wind, some rain, and rough seas, but it's not yet possible to provide many details regarding the regions potentially most affected," reads Meteored's statement.
