Hurricane Gordon heads toward eastern Azores

Hurricane Gordon sped across the Atlantic on Sunday toward the eastern Azores islands, where a hurricane warning is in effect, U.S. forecasters in Miami said.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Gordon was centered about 220 miles (354 kilometers) west-southwest of Sao Miguel Island in the Azores as of 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT). Gordon had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with top sustained winds of 90 mph (145 kph) and higher gusts.

The hurricane, which formed on Saturday, was moving toward the east-northeast at 21 mph (34 kph).

The hurricane was on a forecast track expected to take it near or over the islands of the eastern Azores early Monday. Forecasters said that while the Gordon was expected to weaken somewhat Sunday, it still was expected to be a hurricane when it passes over the eastern Azores.

Gordon's dangerous surf and ocean swells could reach the central and eastern Azores on Sunday afternoon and heavy rains were expected, forecasters said.