Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, Sept. 25, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese airlines TAP and SATA on Thursday warned of possible flight disruptions between today and Friday due to tropical cyclone Gabrielle passing through the Azores archipelago.
"TAP's operations to and from Ponta Delgada and Terceira may be affected between 25 and 27 September due to adverse weather conditions caused by Hurricane Gabrielle passing through the Autonomous Region of the Azores," TAP said on its website.
In the same publication, the airline asks passengers to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
The Azorean airline SATA has also published a note on its website warning passengers of the impact that Gabrielle may have on its operations.
"Due to the approach of Hurricane Gabrielle to the Autonomous Region of the Azores, SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines operations may be affected between 25 and 27 September," it said.
As a measure to support passengers, SATA "will allow all customers with flights scheduled for 25 and 26 September to change their reservations without penalties or fare differences".
The airline also recommends that passengers follow updates on its website or contact customer services for further information.
The first effects of tropical cyclone Gabrielle are expected to be felt in the Azores from the end of today, with the storm expected to hit the region with the force of a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is the most severe category).
According to a situation report from Portugal's national meteorological institute (IPMA) on Wednesday night, the hurricane had already dropped to category 2, with Gabrielle located 1,630 kilometres west of the Western group of the archipelago (Flores and Corvo Islands).
It is between this group and the Central group (Pico, Faial, Graciosa, São Jorge and Terceira Islands) that the centre of the cyclone is expected to pass.
In the Western group, "there will be heavy rainfall, winds gusting up to 150 kilometres per hour from the south, turning north, and rough seas with waves between eight and 10 metres high, with maximum waves reaching 14 to 18 metres".
For the Central group, heavy rainfall is also forecast, with winds gusting up to 200 kilometres per hour from the south, turning north-west. The expected rough seas are the same as for the islands of Flores and Corvo.
São Miguel and Santa Maria Islands (Eastern group) will also have rain and gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour, with waves varying between six and seven metres in height.
The islands of the Western and Central groups will be under different red warnings due to forecasts from midnight on Friday until 6 a.m., 9 a.m. or 12 p.m.
ASR/AYLS // AYLS
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