Hurricane Gabrielle continues to pick up strength in the Atlantic and move away from the U.S. towards Portugal and Spain.

The hurricane, now a Category 3, is expected to reach the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal in the mid-Atlantic, late on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Meteorological Service of Portugal issued a hurricane warning for the islands.

Forecasters said in an early morning advisory on Sept. 23 that Gabrielle was located about 1,360 miles west of the Azores, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.

The storm is forecasted to dissipate early Saturday morning, before it reaches Portugal early Monday morning.

The storm's path has shifted away from the U.S., so there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect; however, swells

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