Galicia ‍is bracing for a critically important weather shift this weekend as the remnants of‍ Hurricane gabrielle, transitioning into an extratropical storm after passing the ⁢Azores, approach the region. ⁣The change will be marked by strong southerly winds, intense rainfall, ⁤and perilous sea conditions with waves perhaps ‍exceeding six meters (approximately two stories high).

⁤ The State Meteorology Agency (Aemet) has issued⁢ warnings that instability will begin on Saturday, with increasing southerly winds, intermittent rainfall, and a worsening of sea conditions. Coastal areas are expected to experience waves exceeding six meters, posing a significant hazard.
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Wind gusts ‍are also forecast to reach ⁤considerable speeds. Current models predict that sunday will be the most challenging day, with persistent‍ and stormy intervals potentially impacting Galician provinces unevenly, with⁤ Pontevedra expected to be the ⁢most exposed.

Gabrielle’s Trajectory ⁢and Subsequent Improvement

⁤ Hurricane Gabrielle intensified to a Category 3 storm on the saffir-Simpson scale on Monday,‍ September 18, 2023, with sustained winds of 195 kilometers⁢ per hour (approximately ⁣121 mph), according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s ‍center is expected to ⁣impact the azores between Thursday, September 21,⁣ and Friday, September 22, while still ⁢maintaining hurricane strength, before transitioning into⁤ an extratropical storm as it moves towards the Iberian Peninsula. ⁢ During ⁢this transition, the system will lose its symmetrical structure and weaken.

Meteorologists anticipate a rapid improvement in weather conditions following Gabrielle’s passage, with‍ the return of an anticyclone. This will bring more stable skies and‍ temperatures potentially above average for the end of September.