Hurricane Alex Weakens Slightly As It Moves Toward The Azores
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Hurricane Alex has weakened slightly as it moves toward the Azores.
At 11 p.m., the center of Alex was about 275 miles south-southeast of Faial Island in the central Azores.
The system had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, with higher gusts.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.
Alex was moving to the north-northeast at nearly 22 mph.
Little change in strength is expected over the next day or so. However, Alex is likely to lose its tropical characteristics on Friday.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira in the central Azores, and a Tropical Storm Warning for the islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria in the eastern Azores.
On the forecast track, the center of Alex will move near or over portions of the Azores Friday morning.
Tropical-storm-force winds are expected to begin over portions of the Azores Thursday night. Hurricane conditions are expected to spread over the central Azores by early Friday.
Alex is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over the Azores through Friday, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.