Hurricane warning issued as Gabrielle approaches the Azores islands

MIAMI (AP) — A hurricane warning has been issued for the Azores as Hurricane Gabrielle churned Wednesday across open Atlantic waters on track for the volcanic archipelago, forecasters said.

The Category 3 storm is forecast to weaken but still approach the Azores late Thursday as a hurricane, with dangerous conditions likely Thursday night and Friday, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said .

Waves generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward and the Atlantic coast of Canada, forecasters said. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible.

In the Northern Atlantic, Gabrielle was centered about 1,360 miles west of the island chain on Wednesday.

The storm could cause significant coastal flooding and large