United States

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

August 21, 2012; 5:32 AM

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This satellite image of Gordon, courtesy of CIMSS, was taken Monday morning.

It is déjà vu for the Azores with Gordon slamming the island chain Monday morning; the same scene played out the last time a storm was named Gordon in the Atlantic six years ago.

The strongest tropical system recorded so far in the Atlantic Basin this year collided with Santa Maria Island in the eastern Azores early Monday morning.

Gordon is losing tropical characteristics, whose latest statistics are given by the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center.

While weakening, Gordon continues to pound these islands with winds strong enough to cause power outages and cause damage to homes and businesses.

A total of 3 to 6 inches of rain is expected by the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center into Monday night with flash flooding remaining a serious concern.

All of the Azores will be battered by rough surf and pounding waves kicked up by Gordon. Beachfront homes and communities should prepare for coastal flooding.

Conditions will rapidly improve across the Azores later Monday night and Tuesday as Gordon continues its east-northeastward track, weakening into a tropical storm over the cooler waters of the eastern Atlantic.

Shown above are the impacts of Gordon across the Azores with the easternmost islands enduring the worth of the hurricane's fury.

The total demise of Gordon will then come by midweek in between the Azores and Portugal without any significant moisture reaching Europe.

The impending pounding from Gordon that awaits the Azores may feel like déjà vu to residents. The last time a hurricane was named Gordon in the Atlantic, in 2006, the Azores were once again the target.

Gordon from 2006 crossed the Azores on Sept. 19-20 as a Category 1 hurricane, producing a wind gust of 82 mph on Santa Maria island.

No lives were lost across the Azores, but minor wind damage in the form of fallen trees and power outages resulted.

Gordon from 2006, however, had more of an impact on Europe than the current Gordon will. After losing its tropical characteristics, Gordon from 2006 unleashed high wind and rain across western Europe.

Four people suffered injuries from falling debris, and 100,000 customers lost power in Spain. Another injury was reported in Northern Ireland, while gusty winds and rain affected practice rounds at the Ryder Cup golf tournament in Ireland.