In a statement accompanied by an audio reading, the regional delegation of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) indicated that at 9:00 a.m. local time (10:00 a.m. in Lisbon), the tropical cyclone was approximately 940 kilometres west of Faial Island, in the Central group, moving at a speed of 52 kilometres per hour.

"Hurricane Gabrielle is currently classified as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. According to the latest weather model results, Gabrielle's track indicates that it will now pass very close to or even over the Central group, maintaining Category 1 hurricane strength," said meteorologist Vanda Costa.

On Tuesday, Gabrielle was classified as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (between 1 and 5, with 5 being the most severe). By Wednesday morning, it had weakened to Category 3 and, by the end of the day, to Category 2.

The IPMA forecasts "greater worsening of weather conditions in the Central and Eastern groups than previously reported."

In the Central Group (Pico, Faial, Graciosa, Terceira, and São Jorge), "heavy rainfall, winds with gusts of around 200 kilometres per hour from the south, turning northwest, and rough seas with waves between eight and 10 meters high, with a maximum wave height of 14 to 18 meters, are expected."

In the Western Group (Flores and Corvo), heavy rainfall and gusts of up to 130 kilometres per hour are also expected, with waves identical to those in the Central Group.

These two groups are receiving several red warnings from the IPMA (the most severe on a scale of three) between the end of today and Friday morning.

On the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria (Eastern Group), "sometimes heavy rainfall," gusts between 100 and 120 kilometers per hour, and waves up to nine meters high are expected.

The Azores will declare a state of alert between 6 p.m. today and 6 p.m. Friday in the Central and Western regions, prohibiting certain activities due to the passage of the tropical cyclone, the Regional Government announced today.

"This alert will be in effect between 6 p.m. today and 6 p.m. tomorrow [Friday]," said Alonso Miguel, Regional Secretary of Environment and Climate Action, at the Civil Protection headquarters in Angra do Heroísmo.

According to the official, the alert implies the "prohibition of activities along the coast and in riverside areas" and "the restriction of movement along the coast, except for residents and essential services."

"Tourism or recreational activities, especially nature trails," as well as "sports, recreational, cultural, or religious activities in open spaces located in areas exposed to risk," will also be prohibited.

On Thursday, the Government of the Azores had already ordered the closure of schools and public services on the seven islands of the Western and Central group from 6 pm today until 6 pm on Friday.