Former Hurricane Gabrielle threatens the Azores with heavy rain and storm surge

MIAMI (AP) — The former Hurricane Gabrielle was expected to bring hurricane conditions including heavy rain, storm surge and large, destructive waves to the Azores islands starting Thursday night despite being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, forecasters said.

The National Hurricane Center declared Gabrielle post-tropical, a characterization that simply means the system lacks typical “tropical characteristics.” But the threat of severe weather impacts still remained through Friday.