Gaston Taking Aim at Western Europe! (credit: @ScottDuncanWx via Meteo Europe)

DISCUSSION: As a strengthening Tropical Storm Gaston continues moving off to the northwest at between 5 and 10 MPH, there continues to remain a strong potential for this tropical storm to reach hurricane status by the mid/late-morning hours tomorrow.  That being said, fortunately the current mid/upper-air pattern across the Western-to-Central Atlantic Ocean has prevented Tropical Storm Gaston from taking any more of a jog further to the west.  This has consequently spared the island nation of Bermuda as well as the Eastern United States from any direct impact from Gaston.  

Nonetheless, as reflected by the projected forecast cone-of-uncertainty graphic (courtesy of @ScottDuncanWX), there is a large portion of far Western Europe which will almost certainly lie in the path of what will likely be a strong (or possibly even a strengthening) extra-tropical cyclone as the core circulation of Gaston moves toward and over the colder waters of the North and Northeast Atlantic Ocean.  As a result, those who are vacationing, visiting, or even living across any parts of Ireland, the British Isles, northern sections of France, and points further to the north and east should prepare for a hard (if not direct) hit from this future extra-tropical cyclone as it marches across the Atlantic Ocean over the next several days!  To learn more about other high-impact weather events from across Europe, be sure to click here!