Last Advisory Issued Early Saturday Morning

While the focus shifted completely over to the more immediate threat of now Post-Tropical Storm Hermine, Gaston was wrapping up in the Northeastern Atlantic. Early Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory on the storm system. The post-tropical cyclone was beginning to pull away from the Azores.

As of the last advisory from the NHC at 5:00 AM AST (EDT) on Saturday morning, Gaston was located some 160 miles to the Northeast of Faial Island in the Central Azores or about 120 miles due north of Lajes Air Base in the Azores. Maximum sustained winds were down to depression strength at 35 miles per hour with gusts of minimal tropical storm force.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Gaston was moving briskly to the East-Northeast at 17 miles per hour. Barometric pressure has risen to 1006 millibars or 29.71 inches of Hg (Mercury). While the storm has weakened, the once major hurricane is still generating swells that are producing heavy surf and dangerous rip currents through parts of the Azores on Saturday.

Further weakening is likely with Gaston now that it is over cooler waters and encountering hostile atmospheric conditions. The post-cyclone is expected to dissipate on Sunday. Gaston became the first major hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season with maximum sustained winds peaking at 120 miles per hour earlier in the week.