Former Tropical Storm Danielle intensified to a hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean west of the Azores on Friday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Danielle was located at latitude 37.9°N and longitude 43.3°W which put it about 885 miles (1425 km) west of the Azores. Danielle was moving toward the west at 1 m.p.h. (2 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Danielle intensified to a hurricane west of the Azores on Friday morning. Danielle became the first Atlantic hurricane in 2022. A circular eye was present at the center of Hurricane Danielle. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) in the northwestern quadrant of Danielle. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Danielle will be in an area where the steering winds are weak during the next 48 hours. Danielle is likely to meander slowly over the North Atlantic. On its anticipated track Hurricane Danielle will remain far to the west of the Azores during the next 48 hours.

Hurricane Danielle will be in an environment mostly favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Danielle will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 27˚C. It will be in a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, since Hurricane Danielle will meander over the same part of the Atlantic Ocean during the weekend, its winds could mix cooler water to the surface of the ocean. Hurricane Danielle could intensify during the next 48 hours unless it mixes too much cooler water to the surface.