With mainland Portugal set to enjoy another weekend of hot and sunny weather with temperatures mostly in the mid to high 30ºCs, the Azores archipelago is preparing to ride out Hurricane Gaston which is expected to hit the islands at around midday today (September 2).
The archipelago has been placed under ‘orange alert’ (the second most serious) by Portugal’s IPMA weather institute, with the islands expecting “winds of up to 110km/h, heavy rain and six to eight metres-high waves”.
According to weather.com, the hurricane is expected to “weaken into a tropical storm” by the time it hits the Azores. The biggest potential threat is “flash flooding,” the weather portal adds.
Locals are still advised to stay away from coastal areas. Azores’ maritime commander Cruz Martins has explained that following safety advice will be essential for people to avoid “situations of risk”.
