Tropical storm Gil turns into hurricane, urgent alert issued for Hawaii-bound tourists and California; Check tracker
According to forecasters, Hurricane Gil is currently centered around 1,000 miles southwest of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, with sustained winds of up to 75 mph (120 kph).
Gil was promptly elevated to hurricane status after initially being categorized as a tropical storm.
With considerable forward momentum, experts caution that it may reach California as early as today. During the passage of Tropical Storm Iona and another adjacent meteorological system, authorities in Hawaii have issued fire hazard alerts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Spain, Portugal order mass evacuation of residents as wildfires rage
Wildfires gripping Spain and Portugal forced mass evacuations and the deployment of thousands of emergency personnel as a heatwave continues to ravage the Iberian Peninsula, Euro News reported. High temperatures in Spain have sparked multiple wildfires of particular concern in Galicia, Leon and Caceres. Local media report up to 13 active blazes in the region.(REUTERS) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited regions affected by forest fires in Ourense and Leon to meet with the heads of emergency and coordination teams. He was accompanied by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, according to Euro News. In a press conference, Sanchez said "the next hours and days are critical" and that the government would provide the help needed to extinguish the fires, including 500 more military personnel. He added that the ongoing operations by emergency personnel were "probably" the largest European civil protection mobilisation in history. Sanchez also said the Spanish government would propose a state pact to adapt the country to climate change. As part of the visit, he met with Galician regional president Alfonso Rueda and the government delegate in Castille and Leon, Nicanor Sen, and is set to visit other affected parts of Spain next week, Euro News reported. High temperatures in Spain have sparked multiple wildfires of particular concern in Galicia, Leon and Caceres. Local media report up to 13 active blazes in the region. The wildfires have already burned more than 115,000 hectares of land, including over 50,000 in Galicia alone - most in the province of Ourense, the hardest hit so far. According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, over 13,600 members of the State Security Forces have been deployed to fight the fires. Around 575 residents of several towns in Salamanca were evacuated due to the blazes, Euro News reported. Temperatures in Spain are forecast to remain very high until Monday, possibly exceeding 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, the Spanish state meteorological agency said. In neighbouring Portugal, more than 3,200 firefighters battled nine major fires on Sunday, most concentrated in the towns of Arganil and Satão. Mainland Portugal has been hit by multiple wildfires since July, particularly in the North and Central regions. According to provisional official data, 139,000 hectares of land have been burned in Portugal this year -- 17 times more than during the same period in 2024, Euro News reported. Almost half of this was consumed in just two days this week. The fires have caused the death of at least one person and left several injured. On Friday, the Portuguese government requested assistance from the EU's civil protection mechanism, a firefighting force European countries in need can call upon. Two Fire Boss aircraft are expected to arrive on Monday to reinforce firefighting efforts, according to local media. (ANI)
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Pilgrimage route cut as Spanish wildfires spread to Picos de Europa mountains
Reuters Raging wildfires in Spain spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range on Monday and authorities closed part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. About 20 wildfires, fuelled by a severe 16-day heatwave, have devastated more than 115,000 hectares (285,000 acres) in the regions of Galicia and Castile and Leon over the past week. "This is a fire situation we haven't experienced in 20 years," Defence Minister Margarita Robles told radio station Cadena SER. "The fires have special characteristics as a result of climate change and this huge heatwave." She said thick smoke was affecting the work of water-carrying helicopters and aircraft. The Spanish army has deployed 1,900 troops to help firefighters. Highways and rail services have been cut in the area, as well as the "Camino de Santiago" hiking route, an ancient pilgrimage path trodden by thousands in the summer. It links France and the city of Santiago de Compostela on the Western tip of Spain, where the remains of the apostle St James are said to be buried. Authorities in the Castile and Leon region have closed the path in the area between the towns of Astorga and Ponferrada, which are about 50 km (30 miles) apart, and told hikers "not to put (their) lives in danger". A firefighter died when his truck crashed on a forest path near the village of Espinoso de Compludo. Four firefighters have died so far. The Interior ministry says 27 people have been arrested and 92 are under investigation for suspected arson since June. Southern Europe is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades, with Spain among the hardest-hit countries. In Portugal, wildfires have burnt 155,000 hectares so far this year, according to the ICNF forestry protection institute - three times the average for this period between 2006 to 2024. About half of that area burned in the past three days. Robles said things are not likely to improve until the heatwave that has seen temperatures hit 45 Celsius degrees (113 Fahrenheit) starts easing on Monday evening or Tuesday. The heatwave is the third hottest since 1975, when the national weather agency started tracking them. Most of the country is subject to wildfire warnings. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. IndiGo's GIFT City unit: Simple expansion or is there more to it than meets the eye? GST cut to benefit; but who gains the most? Good, bad, ugly: How will higher ethanol in petrol play out for you? Why are mid-cap stocks fizzling out? It's not just about Trump tariffs. Stock Radar: This hotel stock is showing signs of bottoming out; time to buy? Logistics sector: Be tactical in the face of head & tailwinds; 6 logistics stocks with an upside potential of over 30% Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 25% in 1 year History of wealth creators: Everything should be in context, whether it is PE or PEG; on a standalone basis they mean nothing
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Dare County issues mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island as Hurricane Erin threatens the Outer Banks
Synopsis Dare County has issued a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island residents and visitors due to the impending threat of Hurricane Erin. The evacuation order begins Monday for visitors and Tuesday for residents, covering the entire island. While the hurricane is expected to stay offshore, it will bring severe coastal flooding, high surf, and potential damage to the Outer Banks. Reuters Dare County evacuation alert: Hatteras Island residents told to leave before Hurricane Erin hits(Image: Hurricane Erin moves westward near Puerto Rico in a composite satellite image August 17, 2025. CIRA/NOAA/Handout via REUTERS) Dare County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents and visitors of Hatteras Island ahead of Hurricane Erin's expected impacts. The order comes as the county declared a local state of emergency, urging everyone to leave the area before the storm's dangerous conditions arrive. In the release, it said, 'A State of Emergency declaration has been issued for all areas of Dare County, effective on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.'The evacuation directive begins for visitors at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, August 18, while residents must evacuate starting at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The order covers the entire island, including Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Officials advised using westbound Highway 64 toward Interstate 95 to avoid congestion and ensure a safe Hurricane Erin is forecast to remain offshore, its expanding size is expected to bring life-threatening impacts to the Outer Banks, including severe coastal flooding and high surf, beginning Tuesday. The National Weather Service has placed the area under a Coastal Flood Watch, warning that ocean overwash and flooding could render portions of North Carolina Highway 12 impassable for several days.A High Surf Advisory is also in effect, with waves of 15 to 20 feet predicted, creating hazardous swimming and surfing conditions along Hatteras Island's beaches. Officials cautioned that extreme beach and coastal damage is likely, with dangerous waves capable of breaching dunes, flooding inland areas, and causing structural damage to homes and 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Erin had maximum sustained winds near 125 mph and could strengthen further as it undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle. The storm is expected to remain a major hurricane through midweek, gradually turning north and generating hazardous surf and rip currents along the US East Coast, Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada.
